Salary Range
Low (10th %)$30,140
Median$38,940
High (90th %)$57,990
AI Prompt Guides for Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Unlock expert prompt guides tailored for this Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand. Get strategies to boost your productivity and results with AI.
AI Prompt Tool for Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Experiment with and customize AI prompts designed for this occupation. Try, edit, and save prompts for your workflow.
Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. Includes chippers, buffers, and finishers.
The occupation "Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand" has an automation risk of 40.7%, which is closely aligned with the base risk of 41.2% for this type of work. This risk level suggests that while some aspects of the role can be automated, a substantial portion still requires human involvement. The tasks in this occupation often blend manual dexterity with judgment and adaptability, limiting complete automation. Factors such as the diversity of materials, intricacy of objects, and necessity for nuanced adjustments mean many operations are not easily transferred to automated systems. Consequently, despite advances in robotics and machine vision, some grinding and polishing work remains reliant on skilled human hands. The tasks most susceptible to automation include the verification of quality by inspecting and measuring finished workpieces, the core polishing and grinding actions, and the measurement and marking of parts to ensure standards are met. These activities often involve repetitive procedures that can be standardized and replicated by machines, especially with the advancement in sensors and robotics capable of high precision. Automated inspection systems, robotic arms fitted with grinding attachments, and digital calipers are increasingly used in manufacturing to reduce variability and improve efficiency. However, while these tasks are amenable to automation, exceptions occur with bespoke, irregular, or delicate workpieces where adaptability is crucial. Conversely, the least automatable tasks involve more specialized manual operations, such as cleaning brass particles from files using file cards, applying chemicals and solutions with hand tools, and recording product data on specified forms. These tasks typically require nuanced manipulation, careful application, or bespoke record-keeping that is challenging for machines to perform without sophisticated programming or adaptive intelligence. The bottleneck skills that resist automation, most notably originality (with impact levels of 2.8% and 2.0%), reflect the value of human ingenuity and problem-solving in unpredictable or unique situations. Thus, while automation is making inroads, the multifaceted nature of hand grinding and polishing ensures continuing demand for skilled workers who bring creativity and adaptability to their tasks.
Filter by Automatable Status
Grind, sand, clean, or polish objects or parts to correct defects or to prepare surfaces for further finishing, using hand tools and power tools.
Non-Automatable
Measure and mark equipment, objects, or parts to ensure grinding and polishing standards are met.
Automatable
Trim, scrape, or deburr objects or parts, using chisels, scrapers, and other hand tools and equipment.
Non-Automatable
Mark defects, such as knotholes, cracks, and splits, for repair.
Partially Automatable
Study blueprints or layouts to determine how to lay out workpieces or saw out templates.
Partially Automatable
Move controls to adjust, start, or stop equipment during grinding and polishing processes.
Automatable
Load and adjust workpieces onto equipment or work tables, using hand tools.
Non-Automatable
Repair and maintain equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools.
Non-Automatable
Select files or other abrasives, according to materials, sizes and shapes of workpieces, amount of stock to be removed, finishes specified, and steps in finishing processes.
Automatable
Sharpen abrasive grinding tools, using machines and hand tools.
Non-Automatable
Transfer equipment, objects, or parts to specified work areas, using moving devices.
Automatable
Remove completed workpieces from equipment or work tables, using hand tools, and place workpieces in containers.
Automatable
Record product and processing data on specified forms.
Automatable
Apply solutions and chemicals to equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools.
Partially Automatable
Clean brass particles from files by drawing file cards through file grooves.
Non-Automatable
Verify quality of finished workpieces by inspecting them, comparing them to templates, measuring their dimensions, or testing them in working machinery.
Partially Automatable
File grooved, contoured, and irregular surfaces of metal objects, such as metalworking dies and machine parts, to conform to templates, other parts, layouts, or blueprint specifications.
Non-Automatable
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningLearning StrategiesMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingOperations MonitoringEquipment MaintenanceSystems AnalysisManagement of Personnel ResourcesWritingSpeakingMathematicsScienceCritical ThinkingActive LearningSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationPersuasionNegotiationInstructingService OrientationOperations AnalysisTechnology DesignEquipment SelectionInstallationProgrammingOperation and ControlTroubleshootingRepairingQuality Control AnalysisJudgment and Decision MakingSystems EvaluationTime ManagementManagement of Financial ResourcesManagement of Material Resources
Arm-Hand SteadinessAuditory AttentionCategory FlexibilityControl PrecisionDeductive ReasoningDepth PerceptionDynamic FlexibilityDynamic StrengthExplosive StrengthExtent FlexibilityFar VisionFinger DexterityFlexibility of ClosureFluency of IdeasGlare SensitivityGross Body CoordinationGross Body EquilibriumHearing SensitivityInductive ReasoningInformation OrderingManual DexterityMathematical ReasoningMemorizationMultilimb CoordinationNear VisionNight VisionNumber FacilityOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionOriginalityPerceptual SpeedPeripheral VisionProblem SensitivityRate ControlReaction TimeResponse OrientationSelective AttentionSound LocalizationSpatial OrientationSpeech ClaritySpeech RecognitionSpeed of ClosureSpeed of Limb MovementStaminaStatic StrengthTime SharingTrunk StrengthVisual Color DiscriminationVisualizationWrist-Finger SpeedWritten ComprehensionWritten Expression
Administration and ManagementAdministrativeEconomics and AccountingSales and MarketingCustomer and Personal ServicePersonnel and Human ResourcesProduction and ProcessingFood ProductionComputers and ElectronicsEngineering and TechnologyDesignBuilding and ConstructionMechanicalMathematicsPhysicsChemistryBiologyPsychologySociology and AnthropologyGeographyMedicine and DentistryHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologyPublic Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentTelecommunicationsCommunications and MediaTransportationForeign LanguageEnglish LanguageFine ArtsEducation and TrainingTherapy and Counseling
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationGetting InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleProcessing InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsAnalyzing Data or InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentWorking with ComputersRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentDocumenting/Recording InformationDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentThinking CreativelyEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsAssisting and Caring for OthersSelling or Influencing OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsTraining and Teaching OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesMaking Decisions and Solving Problems
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Medium49.31%
Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.
Maintenance Workers, Machinery
Low32.98%
Lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Medium34.24%
Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Medium48.15%
Set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate, or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material.
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Medium33.25%
Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Medium38.52%
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.
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Medium35.75%
Set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Medium47.82%
Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Medium44.70%
Set up, operate, or tend more than one type of cutting or forming machine tool or robot.
Tool and Die Makers
Medium42.07%
Analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operate machine tools, and fit and assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, and machinists' hand tools.
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
Medium39.82%
Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
Medium41.68%
Operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
Medium37.16%
Set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Includes lead sawyers.
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
Medium44.55%
Set up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment.
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium57.80%
Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
Medium56.41%
Use hand tools or hand-held power tools to cut and trim a variety of manufactured items, such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass, or rubber.
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium44.55%
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
Medium51.08%
Operate or tend bonding machines that use adhesives to join items for further processing or to form a completed product. Processes include joining veneer sheets into plywood; gluing paper; or joining rubber and rubberized fabric parts, plastic, simulated leather, or other materials.
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
Medium44.30%
Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.
Machine Feeders and Offbearers
High66.68%
Feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
Low25.93%
Keep buildings in clean and orderly condition. Perform heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish. Duties may include tending furnace and boiler, performing routine maintenance activities, notifying management of need for repairs, and cleaning snow or debris from sidewalk.
Tree Trimmers and Pruners
Low12.36%
Using sophisticated climbing and rigging techniques, cut away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to maintain right-of-way for roads, sidewalks, or utilities, or to improve appearance, health, and value of tree. Prune or treat trees or shrubs using handsaws, hand pruners, clippers, and power pruners. Works off the ground in the tree canopy and may use truck-mounted lifts.
Manicurists and Pedicurists
Low17.84%
Clean and shape customers' fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails.
Log Graders and Scalers
Medium49.42%
Grade logs or estimate the marketable content or value of logs or pulpwood in sorting yards, millpond, log deck, or similar locations. Inspect logs for defects or measure logs to determine volume.
Floor Sanders and Finishers
Low14.14%
Scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using floor scraper and floor sanding machine, and apply coats of finish.
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Low15.23%
Smooth and finish surfaces of poured concrete, such as floors, walks, sidewalks, roads, or curbs using a variety of hand and power tools. Align forms for sidewalks, curbs, or gutters; patch voids; and use saws to cut expansion joints.
Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
Low9.52%
Apply a mixture of cement, sand, pigment, or marble chips to floors, stairways, and cabinet fixtures to fashion durable and decorative surfaces.
Construction Laborers
Low21.08%
Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Low27.26%
Operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways or for tamping gravel, dirt, or other materials. Includes concrete and asphalt paving machine operators, form tampers, tamping machine operators, and stone spreader operators.
Tapers
Low12.39%
Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surface for painting or papering.
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
Low20.92%
Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Medium37.50%
Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap subsurface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of explosives in mining or construction. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.
Rock Splitters, Quarry
Low16.50%
Separate blocks of rough dimension stone from quarry mass using jackhammers, wedges, or chop saws.
Automotive Body and Related Repairers
Low12.83%
Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
Low24.75%
Replace or repair broken windshields and window glass in motor vehicles.
Tire Repairers and Changers
Low24.74%
Repair and replace tires.
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
Low9.90%
Build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, and ovens, using refractory materials.
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
Low15.30%
Repair percussion, stringed, reed, or wind instruments. May specialize in one area, such as piano tuning.
Watch and Clock Repairers
Medium37.83%
Repair, clean, and adjust mechanisms of timing instruments, such as watches and clocks. Includes watchmakers, watch technicians, and mechanical timepiece repairers.
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
Medium42.90%
Wind wire coils used in electrical components, such as resistors and transformers, and in electrical equipment and instruments, such as field cores, bobbins, armature cores, electrical motors, generators, and control equipment.
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
Low25.88%
Fabricate, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products.
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
Low26.26%
Laminate layers of fiberglass on molds to form boat decks and hulls, bodies for golf carts, automobiles, or other products.
Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters
Low18.90%
Perform precision assembling or adjusting, within narrow tolerances, of timing devices such as digital clocks or timing devices with electrical or electronic components.
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Medium58.74%
Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Medium34.93%
Set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.
Pourers and Casters, Metal
Medium35.59%
Operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots.
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
Medium46.07%
Lay out, machine, fit, and assemble castings and parts to metal or plastic foundry patterns, core boxes, or match plates.
Foundry Mold and Coremakers
Medium45.76%
Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Medium43.49%
Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Medium34.63%
Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Medium60.67%
Set up, operate, or tend plating machines to coat metal or plastic products with chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or other metal to protect or decorate surfaces. Typically, the product being coated is immersed in molten metal or an electrolytic solution.
Print Binding and Finishing Workers
Low26.68%
Bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine. May set up binding and finishing machines.
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
Low31.21%
Operate or tend washing or dry-cleaning machines to wash or dry-clean industrial or household articles, such as cloth garments, suede, leather, furs, blankets, draperies, linens, rugs, and carpets. Includes spotters and dyers of these articles.
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
Low22.15%
Press or shape articles by hand or machine.
Sewing Machine Operators
Medium33.40%
Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
Low22.86%
Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. May use hand tools.
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
Medium56.98%
Operate or tend machines to bleach, shrink, wash, dye, or finish textiles or synthetic or glass fibers.
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium50.87%
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium52.16%
Set up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles.
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium51.65%
Set up, operate, or tend machines that wind or twist textiles; or draw out and combine sliver, such as wool, hemp, or synthetic fibers. Includes slubber machine and drawing frame operators.
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
Medium46.54%
Set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass.
Upholsterers
Low20.15%
Make, repair, or replace upholstery for household furniture or transportation vehicles.
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
Low29.58%
Cut, shape, and assemble wooden articles or set up and operate a variety of woodworking machines, such as power saws, jointers, and mortisers to surface, cut, or shape lumber or to fabricate parts for wood products.
Furniture Finishers
Low24.64%
Shape, finish, and refinish damaged, worn, or used furniture or new high-grade furniture to specified color or finish.
Model Makers, Wood
Medium42.20%
Construct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Includes wood jig builders and loft workers.
Patternmakers, Wood
Medium48.09%
Plan, lay out, and construct wooden unit or sectional patterns used in forming sand molds for castings.
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium59.40%
Set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium57.10%
Set up, operate, or tend machines, such as glass-forming machines, plodder machines, and tuber machines, to shape and form products such as glassware, food, rubber, soap, brick, tile, clay, wax, tobacco, or cosmetics.
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
Medium63.83%
Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
Medium34.83%
Design, fabricate, adjust, repair, or appraise jewelry, gold, silver, other precious metals, or gems.
Gem and Diamond Workers
Medium45.82%
Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.
Dental Laboratory Technicians
Low13.06%
Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
Medium42.63%
Cut, grind, and polish eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. Assemble and mount lenses into frames or process other optical elements. Includes precision lens polishers or grinders, centerer-edgers, and lens mounters.
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
Medium61.82%
Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
Medium35.73%
Paint, coat, or decorate articles, such as furniture, glass, plateware, pottery, jewelry, toys, books, or leather.
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium42.67%
Set up, operate, or tend spraying or rolling machines to coat or paint any of a wide variety of products, including glassware, cloth, ceramics, metal, plastic, paper, or wood, with lacquer, silver, copper, rubber, varnish, glaze, enamel, oil, or rust-proofing materials. Includes painters of transportation vehicles such as painters in auto body repair facilities.
Etchers and Engravers
Medium44.61%
Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.
Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing
Low13.87%
Cut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns.
Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers
Medium36.98%
Shape molten glass according to patterns.
Potters, Manufacturing
Medium37.41%
Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium44.16%
Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products.
Tire Builders
Medium34.65%
Operate machines to build tires.
Helpers--Production Workers
Medium60.30%
Help production workers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
Medium33.55%
Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Medium36.17%
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.
Packers and Packagers, Hand
Medium58.01%
Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.