# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/crushing-grinding-and-polishing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders
- SOC code: 51-9021.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $48,540 (10th percentile $36,520, 90th percentile $69,240)
- Projected growth: Decline, -1.7%
- Openings a year: 2,300
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 97 |
| Investigative (I) | 19 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 7 |
| Conventional (C) | 60 |

## What you'd do

- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 74/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 70/100)
- Getting Information (importance 69/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 68/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 66/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 64/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 62/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 60/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 59/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 59/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Active Listening, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Time Management

## Knowledge

Administration and Management, Production and Processing, English Language, Education and Training, Public Safety and Security, Mathematics, Mechanical, Administrative, Computers and Electronics, Customer and Personal Service

## Also called

Abrasive Grinder, Air Bag Buffer, Air Chipper, Automatic Blocker, Automatic Buffer, Automatic Corn Grinder Operator, Automatic Grinding Machine Operator, Automatic Pattern Edger, Back Grinder, Ball Truing Machine Operator

## Related careers

- [Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-lapping-polishing-and-buffing-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal): $46,550 median pay
- [Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-and-polishing-workers-hand): $42,660 median pay
- [Machine Feeders and Offbearers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/machine-feeders-and-offbearers): $41,220 median pay
- [Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cutting-and-slicing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $46,570 median pay
- [Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tool-grinders-filers-and-sharpeners): $50,060 median pay
- [Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extruding-forming-pressing-and-compacting-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $45,760 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.