Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Centerless Grinder Operator,
Grinder,
Grinder Operator,
Grinding Machine Operator
What they do: Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.
- DemandHigh
- state Avg. Salary $$$$$$38,900Download Career Flyer
What do they typically do on the job?
- Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.
- Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.
- Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.
Personality
Interests
Career interests describe the perspectives and interests of people who enjoy the type of work involved in this career.
Discover what your interests are by taking the Interest Profiler Quiz
Knowledge
People who want to pursue this career have knowledge in these areas.
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
Manufacture and distribution of products
Math and Science
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Abilities
Whether you have received formal training or not, these types of abilities are helpful in this career.
Hand and Finger Use
Hold or move items with your hands
Keep your arm or hand steady
Controlled Movement
Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
Use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down
Visual Understanding
Quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things
See hidden patterns
Reaction Time and Speed
Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command
Skills
People who want to pursue this career have skills in these areas.
Basic Skills
Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
Reading work related information
Problem Solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Work Values
Work values describe how your core beliefs align with those commonly needed for this career.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Does this sound like something you'd like to do?
1. Do some research
- Identify how your interests, values, and strengths match this occupation
- Talk to someone who works in this field or spend a day job shadowing
- Use the colleges and training directory to explore programs related to this career
2. Plan your next move
- Talk to your college and career counselor or school admissions staff
- Connect with a career advisor or mentor
- Visit Idaho Launch
- Search for available Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic jobs on Idaho Works
Data for NSI career cards comes from the following: Idaho Department of Labor, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*NET, MyNextMove, and Career OneStop