Occupation Profile

Industries Employing
 

Grinding, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Workers
(SOC Code : 51-4033)
in California

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.

Employers usually expect an employee in this occupation to be able to do the job after Moderate-term on-the-job training (1-12 months) .

Occupational Wages[Top]
AreaYearPeriodHourly MeanHourly by Percentile
25thMedian75th
California 20231st Qtr$21.38$17.96$19.37$23.48

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Occupational Projections of Employment (also called "Outlook" or "Demand")[Top]
 AreaEstimated Year-Projected YearEmploymentEmployment ChangeTotal Job Openings
EstimatedProjectedNumberPercent
California 2018 - 20289,0008,200-800-8.98,990

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Job Openings from JobCentral National Labor Exchange[Top]
 
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Industries Employing This Occupation (click on Industry Title to View Employers List)[Top]
Industry Title
Number of Employers in State of California
Percent of Total
Employment for Occupation in State of California
Machine Shops; Turned Product; a3,49224.5%
Commercial and Service Industry6458.0%
Primary Metal Manufacturing 6416.2%
Other General Purpose Machinery Mfg 1,0085.7%
Aerospace Product and Parts Manu6085.3%
Other Fabricated Metal Product Mfg 1,0965.3%
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturin8,0915.2%
Architectural and Structural Met1,7745.0%
Medical Equipment and Supplies M2,5683.3%
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 5392.9%
Electrical Equipment, Appliance, a1,1341.8%
Plastics and Rubber Products Manuf1,2881.4%
Industrial Machinery Manufacturing 3391.0%

About Staffing Patterns
 

Training Programs (click on title for more information)[Top]
Program Title
Machine Shop Technology/Assistant
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist

About Training & Apprenticeships
 

About This Occupation (from O*NET - The Occupation Information Network)[Top]
Top Tasks (Specific duties and responsibilities of this job.)
Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as gauges or micrometers.
Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.
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 workpieces.
Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.
Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation.
Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.
Select machine tooling to be used, using knowledge of machine and production requirements.
Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.
Mount and position tools in machine chucks, spindles, or other tool holding devices, using hand tools.
Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications.

More Tasks for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic


Top Skills used in this Job
Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
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.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

More Skills for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic


Top Abilities (Attributes of the person that influence performance in this job.)
Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

More Abilities for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic


Top Work Values (Aspects of this job that create satisfaction.)
Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.
Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions.

More WorkValues for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic


Top Interests (The types of activities someone in this job would like.)
Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

More Interests for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

 
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