Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
SOC: 51-9021 O*NET: 51-9021.00
Median Salary
$46,890
per year
Job Growth
📉 -2.5%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
2.7
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
What does a Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$35,380
10th percentile
Early Career
$38,990
25th percentile
Median
$46,890
50th percentile
Experienced
$58,440
75th percentile
Top Earners
$65,980
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$35,380
25th
$38,990
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$46,890
Mean: $49,400
75th
$58,440
90th
$65,980
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $30,600 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $38,990 and $58,440
- •Salary spread is 41.5% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 28,550 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:28,700
Top Industries
Manufacturing67.5%
Food Manufacturing26.3%
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing18.6%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-2.5%
Annual Openings:2,700
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)28,700
Current
2034 (Projected)27,900
-2.5%
-700
Employment Change
-2.5%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Decline
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 47 locations
California
2,510 jobs$45,9500.75x
Iowa
1,970 jobs$60,2106.81x
Tennessee
1,460 jobs$41,6002.41x
Texas
1,400 jobs$38,5800.55x
Ohio
1,300 jobs$39,5701.27x
Indiana
1,250 jobs$49,2902.11x
Pennsylvania
1,120 jobs$49,0501.00x
New York
1,050 jobs$53,3300.59x
Georgia
970 jobs$38,5601.07x
Michigan
880 jobs$46,7601.08x
Colorado
850 jobs$45,9301.58x
Massachusetts
730 jobs$48,6301.09x
Missouri
710 jobs$48,0901.31x
North Carolina
700 jobs$43,3800.77x
Virginia
640 jobs$43,6800.85x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Operation and Control
100%
#2
Operations Monitoring
94%
#3
Monitoring
86%
#4
Quality Control Analysis
80%
#5
Reading Comprehension
74%
#6
Time Management
66%
#7
Active Listening
60%
#8
Coordination
54%
#9
Speaking
46%
#10
Judgment and Decision Making
40%
Skills Overview
Operation and Control
advanced5.0
100%
Operations Monitoring
advanced4.7
94%
Monitoring
intermediate4.3
86%
Quality Control Analysis
intermediate4.0
80%
Reading Comprehension
basic3.7
74%
Time Management
intermediate3.3
66%
Active Listening
intermediate3.0
60%
Coordination
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Operation and Control
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Operations Monitoring
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Quality Control Analysis
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Time Management
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Coordination
basicImportance54%
skills
2.7/5.0
Speaking
basicImportance46%
skills
2.3/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
basicImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers82%
5 shared skills
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders82%
5 shared skills
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic82%
5 shared skills
Subway and Streetcar Operators82%
5 shared skills
Crane and Tower Operators73%
5 shared skills
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic73%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Monitoring
Learn on the Job:
- →Time Management
- →Active Listening
- →Coordination
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Operations Monitoring
- ✓Quality Control Analysis
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Operation and Control
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Quality Control Analysis
- ★Operation and Control
- ★Reading Comprehension
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
SAP software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
SAP software
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🌤️
Location
MOSTLY OUTDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
OCCASIONAL
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly outdoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (19)Documentation & Record-Keeping (2)
1
Read work orders to determine production specifications and information.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping91% perform94%
5
Examine materials, ingredients, or products, visually or with hands, to ensure conformance to established standards.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping82% perform88%
8
Notify supervisors of needed repairs.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Set mill gauges to specified fineness of grind.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Reject defective products and readjust equipment to eliminate problems.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders professionals typically have a RCI Holland code and highly value support
RRealistic
CConventional
IInvestigative
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Dependability
ImportantDependability
Importance Level3.63
Self-Control
ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level3.56
Independence
ImportantIndependence
Importance Level3.56
Adaptability/Flexibility
ImportantAdaptability/Flexibility
Importance Level3.53
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
3.6
Self-Control
3.6
Independence
3.6
Adaptability/Flexibility
3.5
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
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