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

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

Median Annual Wage: $33,070

Education: High school diploma or equivalent (37%); Less than high school diploma (29%); Post-secondary certificate (15%)

Projected Growth: Decline (-3% or lower)

Related Job Titles: Machine Operator; Grinder Operator; Miller; Mill Operator; Batch Mixer; Crusher Operator; Cullet Trucker; Fabricator; Slurry Control Operator Helper; Beveller Operator

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.

More Production Careers

  • Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.
  • Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials.
  • Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.
  • Examine materials, ingredients, or products, visually or with hands, to ensure conformance to established standards.
  • Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements.
  • Clean, adjust and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
  • Notify supervisors of needed repairs.
  • Set mill gauges to specified fineness of grind.
  • Reject defective products and readjust equipment to eliminate problems.
  • Clean work areas.
  • Transfer materials, supplies, and products between work areas, using moving equipment and hand tools.
  • Dislodge and clear jammed materials or other items from machinery and equipment, using hand tools.
  • Inspect chains, belts, or scrolls for signs of wear.
  • Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.

  • Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.

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