Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-4033.00
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.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.17–0.18· 2 ISCO-08 groups
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
ILO value for each linked ISCO-08 group
- ISCO-08 7223Metal Working Machine Tool Setters and Operators0.18
- ISCO-08 8142Plastic Products Machine Operators0.17
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only18 rated tasks · 2 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (11.1%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Compute machine indexings and settings for specified dimensions and base reference points.O*NET Task ID 10152 | 1.0 |
Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.O*NET Task ID 10147 | 0.5 |
Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.O*NET Task ID 10140 | 0.0 |
Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.O*NET Task ID 10141 | 0.0 |
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.O*NET Task ID 10142 | 0.0 |
Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.O*NET Task ID 10143 | 0.0 |
Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation.O*NET Task ID 10144 | 0.0 |
Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.O*NET Task ID 10145 | 0.0 |
Select machine tooling to be used, using knowledge of machine and production requirements.O*NET Task ID 10146 | 0.0 |
Mount and position tools in machine chucks, spindles, or other tool holding devices, using hand tools.O*NET Task ID 10148 | 0.0 |
Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications.O*NET Task ID 10149 | 0.0 |
Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.O*NET Task ID 10150 | 0.0 |
Brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces.O*NET Task ID 10151 | 0.0 |
Slide spacers between buffs on spindles to set spacing.O*NET Task ID 10153 | 0.0 |
Thread and hand-feed materials through machine cutters or abraders.O*NET Task ID 10154 | 0.0 |
Adjust air cylinders and setting stops to set traverse lengths and feed arm strokes.O*NET Task ID 10155 | 0.0 |
Repair or replace machine parts, using hand tools, or notify engineering personnel when corrective action is required.O*NET Task ID 10156 | 0.0 |
Maintain stocks of machine parts and machining tools.O*NET Task ID 10157 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (18)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers. | Core |
| Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps. | Core |
| 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. | Core |
| Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems. | Core |
| Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation. | Core |
| Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices. | Core |
| Select machine tooling to be used, using knowledge of machine and production requirements. | Core |
| Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences. | Core |
| Mount and position tools in machine chucks, spindles, or other tool holding devices, using hand tools. | Core |
| Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications. | Core |
| Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings. | Core |
| Brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces. | Core |
| Compute machine indexings and settings for specified dimensions and base reference points. | Core |
| Repair or replace machine parts, using hand tools, or notify engineering personnel when corrective action is required. | Core |
| Slide spacers between buffs on spindles to set spacing. | Supplemental |
| Thread and hand-feed materials through machine cutters or abraders. | Supplemental |
| Adjust air cylinders and setting stops to set traverse lengths and feed arm strokes. | Supplemental |
| Maintain stocks of machine parts and machining tools. | Supplemental |
0.88/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| 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. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Mount and position tools in machine chucks, spindles, or other tool holding devices, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Repair or replace machine parts, using hand tools, or notify engineering personnel when corrective action is required. | E0 none |
| Slide spacers between buffs on spindles to set spacing. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Thread and hand-feed materials through machine cutters or abraders. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Adjust air cylinders and setting stops to set traverse lengths and feed arm strokes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Maintain stocks of machine parts and machining tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 69K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 61K
- Change (2025–35)
- -10.8%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $46,550
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85104 | 연삭기 및 연마기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 84225 | 금속코팅·광택 및 래미네이팅기 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 7223Metal Working Machine Tool Setters and Operators
- ISCO-08 8142Plastic Products Machine Operators
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- abrasive blasting operatorESCO 8122.1This occupation is broader
Abrasive blasting operators use the proper equipment and machinery to smoothen rough surfaces by abrasive blasting. Abrasive blasting is commonly used in the finishing process of metal workpieces and for blasting building materials used in masonry such as bricks, stones and concrete. They operate blasters or sand cabinets which forcibly thrust a stream of abrasive material such sand, soda or water, under high pressure, propelled by a centrifigal wheel, in order to shape and smoothen surfaces.
- cylindrical grinder operatorESCO 8122.4This occupation is broader
Cylindrical grinding operators set up and tend cylindrical grinding machines designed to apply abrasive processes in order to remove small amounts of excess material and smoothen metal workpieces by multiple abrasive grinding wheels with diamond teeth as a cutting device for very precise and light cuts, as the workpiece is fed past it and formed into a cylinder.
- deburring machine operatorESCO 8122.5This occupation is broader
Deburring machine operators set up and tend mechanical deburring machines designed to strip metal workpieces of their rough edges, or burrs, by hammering over their surfaces in order to smoothen them or to roll over their edges in case of uneven slits or sheers in order to flatten them into the surface.
- filing machine operatorESCO 8122.9This occupation is broader
Filing machine operators set up and tend filing machines such as band files, reciprocating files and bench filing machines in order to smoothen metal, wood or plastic surfaces by precisely cutting and removing small amounts of excess material.
- grinding machine operatorESCO 7223.4.2This occupation is broader
Grinding machine operators set up, program and control grinding machines, designed to apply abrasive processes in order to remove small amounts of excess material and smoothen metal workpieces by using an abrasive wheel with diamond teeth as a cutting device for very precise and light cuts. They read grinding machine blueprints and tooling instructions, perform regular machine maintenance, and make adjustments to the grinding controls, such as the depth of cuts and the rotation speed.
- metal polisherESCO 7224.1This occupation is broader
Metal polishers use metal working equipment and machinery to polish and buff almost finished metal workpieces in order to enhance their smoothness and appearance and to remove oxidisation, tarnishing the metal after the other fabrication processes. They may operate equipment using diamond solutions, silicon-made polishing pads, or working wheels with a leather polishing strop, and tend to these materials ensuring their effectiveness.
- surface grinding machine operatorESCO 8122.11This occupation is broader
Surface grinding machine operators set up and tend surface grinding machines designed to apply abrasive processes in order to remove small amounts of excess material and smoothen metal workpieces by an abrasive grinding wheel, or wash grinder, rotating on a horizontal or vertical axis.
- tool grinderESCO 7224.2This occupation is broader
Tool grinder perform precision grinding processes on metal objects and tools. They grind, sharpen or smoothen metal surfaces using the appropriate tools and instruments. Tool grinders follow tooling instructions and assure the processed workpiece meets the necessary specifications.
- wood sanderESCO 7523.5Overlapping, not the same
Wood sanders smoothen the surface of a wooden object using various sanding instruments. Each applies an abrasive surface, usually sandpaper, to the workpiece to remove irregularities.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H3401 | Opérateur / Opératrice de traitement d'abrasion de surface | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| H2903 | Usineur / Usineuse | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| H2918 | Affûteur / Affûteuse d'outillage industriel | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 8122 | Operadores de máquinas pulidoras, galvanizadoras y recubridoras de metales | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 7323 | Ajustadores y operadores de máquinas-herramienta | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 7324 | Pulidores de metales y afiladores de herramientas | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 24222 | Berufe in der schleifenden Metallbearbeitung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
| 24201 | Berufe in der Metallbearbeitung (ohne Spezialisierung) - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 523 | 金属工作機械作業従事者 | This occupation is narrower |
| 527 | 金属彫刻・表面処理従事者 | Related, not a match |
| 538 | ゴム・プラスチック製品製造従事者 | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources