Metal & Plastic Grinding Machine Operator

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Metal & Plastic Grinding Machine Operator

Perfect for those who love precision and working with their hands.
Shape and refine materials that are essential to countless industries.
Master the art of transforming raw materials into polished products.

💰 Earn $38K-$49K

📚 High School Diploma or GED

⏱️ 6–12 MONTH TRAINING

📈 -10.7% JOB GROWTH

Metal & Plastic Grinding Machine Operator

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What You’ll Do

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.

Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.
Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.
Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.
Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.
Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.

Scoop

Minimum Education

High School Diploma or GED

Career Prospects

Risky (Decreasing by 5% or more)

Training Time

6 months to 1 year

Job Openings

6,500 Annually

Median Earnings

$42,680 in California

$42,610 Nationally

$25K

$50K

$75K

$100K

$125K

$150K

$175K

$200K

$225K

$250K

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Monitoring
Operation and Control
Operations Monitoring
Reading Comprehension

You value 🙏

Having support
Having freedom
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Metal & Plastic Grinding Machine Operator

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Vocational School

A vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years