At a glance

Description 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.

Alternate titles
  • Abrasive Worker
  • Air Grinder
  • Aluminum Polisher
  • Automatic Grinder Operator
  • Axle Bearing Polisher
  • Axle Polisher
  • Balance Screwhead Polisher
  • Band Reamer Machine Operator
  • Band Saw Filer
  • Barrel Centerer
  • Barrel Polisher
  • Bearing Grinder
  • Bearingizer
  • Belt Polisher
  • Belt Technician (Belt Tech)
  • Bench Grinder
  • Bevel Face Stoner and Polisher
  • Bevel Polisher
  • Billet Grinder
  • Bit Grinder
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  • Bit Sharpener
  • Bit Sharpener Operator
  • Blade Filer
  • Blade Grinder
  • Blade Groover
  • Blade Sharpener
  • Body Finisher
  • Bottom Polisher
  • Bottom Sander
  • Brass Buffer
  • Brass Burnisher
  • Brass Finisher
  • Brass Polisher
  • Broach Grinder
  • Brush Polisher
  • Buffer
  • Bufferer
  • Buffing Line Set Up Worker
  • Buffing Machine Operator
  • Buffing Machine Tender
  • Burnisher
  • Burnishing Machine Operator
  • Burr Bench Hand
  • Burr Bench Operator
  • Burr Filer
  • Burr Machine Operator
  • Burr Sander
  • Burrer
  • Burrer Operator
  • Burring Machine Operator
  • Burring Wheel Operator
  • Castings Trimmer
  • Cell Operator
  • Centerless Grinder
  • Centerless Grinder Operator
  • Centerless Grinder Set-Up Operator
  • Chrome Polisher
  • Clock and Watch Grinder
  • CNC Grinder (Computer Numerically Controlled Grinder)
  • Color Buffer
  • Computer Numerical Control Grinder (CNC Grinder)
  • Crankshaft Grinder
  • Cutlery Grinder
  • Cutter Grinder
  • Cylinder Grinder
  • Deburr Operator
  • Deburr Technician (Deburr Tech)
  • Deburrer
  • Deburring and Tooling Machine Operator
  • Deburring Machine Operator
  • Deburring Technician
  • Dial Buffer
  • Die Maintenance Technician
  • Dinger
  • Disc Sander
  • Disk Grinder
  • Disk Sander
  • Disk Sharpener
  • Double Reamer Operator
  • Dresser
  • Drill Bit Sharpener
  • Drill Grinder
  • Drum Sander
  • Dry Sander
  • Edge Grinder
  • Edger
  • Edging Machine Operator
  • Emery Grinder
  • Emery Wheel Worker
  • Enamel Buffer
  • End Polisher
  • External Grinder
  • Eye Glass Frame Polisher
  • Eyeglass Frames Polisher
  • Faucet Polisher
  • Fender Finisher
  • File Machine Operator
  • Filing Machine Operator
  • Finish Filer
  • Finish Grinder
  • Finish Opener
  • Finisher
  • Flat Polisher
  • Flute Grinder
  • Flute Polisher
  • Gear Finisher
  • Gear Grinder
  • Gear Lapper
  • Gear Lapping Machine Operator
  • Gold Wheel Blocker and Polisher
  • Gold-Nib Grinder
  • Grinder
  • Grinder Machine Operator
  • Grinder Machine Setter
  • Grinder Operator
  • Grinder Set Up Operator
  • Grinder Setup Operator
  • Grinding Machine Operator
  • Grinding Machine Tender
  • Grinding Wheel Dresser
  • Grinding Wheel Facer
  • Grinding Wheel Operator
  • Hob Grinder
  • Honer
  • Honing Job Setter
  • Honing Machine Operator
  • Honing Machine Set-Up Operator
  • Inside Barrel Polisher
  • Instrument Operator
  • Internal Grinder
  • Jet Blade Polisher
  • Jewel Bearing Facer
  • Jewel Bearing Grinder
  • Jewel Bearing Polisher
  • Jig Grinder Set-Up Operator
  • Jig Grinder Setup Operator
  • Job Setter
  • Key Filer
  • Key Sander
  • Knife Blade Polisher
  • Knife Edger
  • Knife Glazer
  • Knife Grinder
  • Knife Sharpener
  • Lap Grinder
  • Lap Machine Tender
  • Lapper
  • Lapping Machine Operator
  • Lapping Machine Set-Up Operator
  • Lawn Mower Sharpener
  • Linter Saw Sharpener
  • Machine Burrer
  • Machine Finisher
  • Machine Grinder
  • Machine Tester
  • Machine Tool Dresser
  • Magnetic Grinder Operator
  • Manufacturing Assistant
  • Manufacturing Associate
  • Manufacturing Operator
  • Metal Buffer
  • Metal Burnisher
  • Metal Burrer
  • Metal Dresser
  • Metal Filer
  • Metal Finisher
  • Metal Furniture Polisher
  • Metal Grinder
  • Metal Polisher
  • Mirror Finishing Machine Operator
  • Mold Cutting Machine Operator
  • Mold Sander
  • Needle Grinder
  • Nicking Machine Operator
  • Notch Grinder
  • OD Grinder (Outside Diameter Grinder)
  • Pallet Rectifier
  • Pattern Filer
  • Pinion Polisher
  • Pivot Maker
  • Plate Grinder
  • Platen Grinder
  • Polisher
  • Polisher and Buffer
  • Polishing Machine Operator
  • Pot Sander
  • Precision Grinder
  • Printing Roller Polisher
  • Process Equipment Operator
  • Production Honing Machine Operator
  • Production Lapping Machine Operator
  • Profile Grinder Technician
  • Rail Grinder
  • Razor Grinder
  • Razor Sharpener
  • Roll Grinder
  • Roll Grinder Operator
  • Sample Grinder
  • Sand Bobber
  • Sand Buffer
  • Sand Polisher
  • Sander Operator
  • Sanding Machine Operator
  • Sanding Machine Tender
  • Satin Finisher
  • Saw Grinder
  • Saw Setter
  • Saw Sharpener
  • Scissors Grinder
  • Scissors Sharpener
  • Scratch Brusher
  • Scratch Finisher
  • Screwhead Polisher
  • Seater Grinder
  • Shear Grinder Operator
  • Shot Grinder Operator
  • Shot Polisher
  • Silver Buffer
  • Silverware Buffer
  • Silverware Buffing Machine Operator
  • Silverware Cleaner
  • Sizing Machine Operator
  • Smoother
  • Snag Grinder
  • Snagger
  • Snailer
  • Steel Buffer
  • Steel Grinder
  • Stone Polisher
  • Stove Polisher
  • Strip Deburrer
  • Surface Grinder
  • Swing Grinder
  • Tap Grinder
  • Thread Grinder
  • Thread Tool Grinder Set-Up Operator
  • Tool Dresser
  • Tool Grinder
  • Tool Honing Machine Set-Up Operator
  • Tool Polisher
  • Tool Polishing Machine Operator
  • Tooth Grinder
  • Tooth Polisher
  • Top Polisher
  • Track Grinder
  • Trimmer
  • Universal Grinder Operator
  • Valve Grinder
  • Watch Case Polisher
  • Watch Parts Grinder
  • Water Sander
  • Wet Sander
  • Wheel Buffer
  • Wheel Grinder
  • Wheel Polisher
Average hourly wage $20.13 - $25.92 ($41,870 - $53,910 annually)*
Annual total openings16
Total number employed181

A day in the life

  • Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Performing General Physical Activities: Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Working with Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
  • Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
  • Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
  • Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
  • Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  • Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
  • Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
  • Attention to Detail: Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Dependability: Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  • Self-Control: Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
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  • Cooperation: Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
  • Integrity: Job requires being honest and ethical.
  • Achievement/Effort: Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
  • Adaptability/Flexibility: Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
  • Independence: Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
  • Innovation: Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
  • Initiative: Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
  • Persistence: Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
  • Concern for Others: Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
  • Leadership: Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
  • Analytical Thinking: Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
  • Stress Tolerance: Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
  • Social Orientation: Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
  • Support: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
  • Relationships: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Independence: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
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  • Working Conditions: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
  • Achievement: Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
  • Recognition: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
  • Realistic: Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
  • Conventional: Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
  • Investigative: Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
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  • Artistic: Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.
  • Social: Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
  • Enterprising: Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
  • 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.
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  • 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.
  • Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.
  • Brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces.
  • Repair or replace machine parts, using hand tools, or notify engineering personnel when corrective action is required.
  • Compute machine indexings and settings for specified dimensions and base reference points.
  • Slide spacers between buffs on spindles to set spacing.
  • Thread and hand-feed materials through machine cutters or abraders.
  • Adjust air cylinders and setting stops to set traverse lengths and feed arm strokes.
  • Maintain stocks of machine parts and machining tools.
  • Repair or replace machine parts, using hand tools, or notify engineering personnel when corrective action is required.
  • Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications.
  • Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.
  • Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.
  • Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.
  • Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.
  • Brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces.
  • Slide spacers between buffs on spindles to set spacing.
  • Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
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  • Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
  • Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Design: Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Administrative: Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
  • Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Chemistry: Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  • Psychology: Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  • Personnel and Human Resources: Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
  • Building and Construction: Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • Foreign Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
  • Transportation: Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
  • Physics: Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
  • Sales and Marketing: Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
  • Communications and Media: Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  • Economics and Accounting: Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
  • Law and Government: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  • Therapy and Counseling: Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
  • Medicine and Dentistry: Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • Philosophy and Theology: Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
  • Sociology and Anthropology: Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
  • Geography: Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
  • Telecommunications: Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
  • Food Production: Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
  • Biology: Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
  • Fine Arts: Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
  • History and Archeology: Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
  • Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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  • Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
  • Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Rate Control: The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
  • Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
  • Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
  • Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Depth Perception: The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
  • Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Wrist-Finger Speed: The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
  • Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
  • Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speed of Closure: The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
  • Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
  • Hearing Sensitivity: The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
  • Extent Flexibility: The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Response Orientation: The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
  • Number Facility: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  • Visual Color Discrimination: The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
  • Dynamic Strength: The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
  • Speed of Limb Movement: The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
  • Stamina: The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
  • Time Sharing: The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
  • Fluency of Ideas: The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Gross Body Coordination: The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
  • Gross Body Equilibrium: The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
  • Memorization: The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
  • Originality: The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Spatial Orientation: The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
  • Explosive Strength: The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting), or to throw an object.
  • Sound Localization: The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.
  • Peripheral Vision: The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.
  • Glare Sensitivity: The ability to see objects in the presence of a glare or bright lighting.
  • Night Vision: The ability to see under low-light conditions.
  • Dynamic Flexibility: The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
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  • Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • 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.
  • Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  • Equipment Selection: Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
  • Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
  • Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
  • Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  • Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
  • Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
  • Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • Management of Material Resources: Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
  • Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
  • Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
  • Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  • Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • Programming: Writing computer programs for various purposes.
  • Technology Design: Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
  • Operations Analysis: Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
  • Management of Financial Resources: Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
  • Installation: Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
  • Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Education & Training

Education High school diploma or equivalent

Licensing Some professions require a specific license to work in Maine. For information on any licensing requirements for this and other occupations, visit the Maine Office of Professional and Financial Regulation.

Training Moderate-term on-the-job training

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Ready to apply? Search Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic jobs on Maine JobLink

Regional Occupation Data

Data provided by CWRI
Total number employed 181
Average annual wage* $41,870 - $53,910
Annual total openings 16
Average hourly wage* $20.13 - $25.92
Total number employed 32
Average annual wage* No data available
Annual total openings 4
Average hourly wage* No data available
Total number employed 56
Average annual wage* $41,560 - $52,290
Annual total openings 6
Average hourly wage* $19.98 - $25.14
Total number employed 125
Average annual wage* No data available
Annual total openings 14
Average hourly wage* No data available

Job description details and pay & demand data for this occupation provided by CWRI, ONET, and Career Onestop.

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