Production
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Also called: Beveler Operator, Cullet Trucker, Grinder, Grinder Operator
US median pay
$48,540
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-1.7%
declining
Openings a year (US)
2,300
26,600 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
What they do day to day
- Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.
- Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
- Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
- Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials.
- Notify supervisors of needed repairs.
- Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements.
- Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.
- Reject defective products and readjust equipment to eliminate problems.
- Inspect chains, belts, or scrolls for signs of wear.
- Clean work areas.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring3.9/5
- Operation and Control3.9/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Troubleshooting2.9/5
- Systems Analysis2.9/5
Knowledge
- Administration and Management3.5/5
- Production and Processing3.4/5
- English Language3.2/5
- Education and Training3.2/5
- Public Safety and Security3.0/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma62%
- Less than high school19%
- Some college18%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.