Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Highest risk
High Risk
Low High

Explore safer careers (5)

Lower estimated automation risk

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
38% automation risk | Low Risk
Pays better Higher growth
41.2 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Experienced operators can progress into shift lead, safety, and production-supervision duties.

Maintenance Workers, Machinery
53% automation risk | Moderate Risk
Pays better More jobs
26.2 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Operators who troubleshoot jams and wear issues can move toward machinery maintenance with training.

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
63% automation risk | High Risk
More jobs
15.9 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Machine-operation experience can support CNC operator training and precision production work.

Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
73% automation risk | High Risk
More jobs
6.5 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Uses process monitoring, material flow, equipment checks, and batch-control habits.

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
74% automation risk | High Risk
Higher growth More jobs
5.1 pts lower View career
Why it fits

Machine operators know material defects, tolerances, sampling, and acceptance checks.

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Occupation snapshot

What does this snowflake show?
The Snowflake is a visual summary of the five badges: Automation Risk (calculated), Risk (polled), Growth, Wages and Volume. It gives you an instant snapshot of an occupations profile. The colour of the Snowflake relates to its size. The better the occupation scores in relation to others, the larger and greener the Snowflake becomes.
JOB SCORE
2.6/10
What's this?
Job Score (higher is better):

We rate jobs using four factors. These are:

- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions

These are some key things to think about when job hunting.

Risk & user votes

Calculated automation risk

79% (High Risk)

High Risk (61-80%): This occupation shows a significant risk of end-to-end replacement by automation. Many core parts of the role may be structured, repeatable, software-driven, or physically predictable enough for AI, machines, or robotic systems to take over. If you work in this area, it may be worth exploring safer related careers or moving towards more human-centred responsibilities.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Human strengths important in this job

These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.

Decision-making and problem solving

Quite important
Why this matters
Analyze information, weigh tradeoffs, and choose the best solution—especially when situations are ambiguous, high-stakes, or have real-world consequences.
Jobs that also use this strength

Education and training expertise

Quite important
Why this matters
Designing and delivering instruction—adapting lessons to different learners and measuring whether training actually works.
Jobs that also use this strength

What users think

Based on 14 votes

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?

Pay & outlook

Wages

Low paid relative to other professions

In 2024, the median annual wage for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders was $46,890 ($23 per hour).

The median annual wage for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders was 5.3% lower than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.

View wage trend

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Growth

Very slow growth relative to other professions.

The number of 'Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders' job openings is expected to decline 2.5% by 2034

View employment trend

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2023 and 2033
Updated projections are due 09-2025.

Volume

Lower range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2024 there were 28,550 people employed as 'Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders' within the United States.

This represents around < 0.001% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 5 thousand people are employed as 'Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders'.

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Job description

Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.

O*NET-SOC code: 51-9021.00