Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-9021.00
Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· 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
0.043
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
0.17–0.23· 4 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 8112Mineral and Stone Processing Plant Operators0.21
- ISCO-08 8114Cement, Stone and Other Mineral Products Machine Operators0.23
- ISCO-08 8141Rubber Products Machine Operators0.18
- ISCO-08 8181Glass and Ceramics Plant Operators0.17
Task-level exposure
Show 21 hidden tasks22 rated tasks · 2 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (9.1%)
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
- 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.51-9021.00 | 0.0373100.0 |
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. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Read work orders to determine production specifications and information.O*NET Task ID 12375 | 1.0 |
Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.O*NET Task ID 12378 | 1.0 |
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®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (21)
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 |
|---|---|
| Read work orders to determine production specifications and information. | Core |
| Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions. | Core |
| Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials. | Core |
| Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms. | Core |
| Examine materials, ingredients, or products, visually or with hands, to ensure conformance to established standards. | Core |
| Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements. | Core |
| Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools. | Core |
| Notify supervisors of needed repairs. | Core |
| Reject defective products and readjust equipment to eliminate problems. | Core |
| Clean work areas. | Core |
| Dislodge and clear jammed materials or other items from machinery and equipment, using hand tools. | Core |
| Inspect chains, belts, or scrolls for signs of wear. | Core |
| Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes. | Core |
| Set mill gauges to specified fineness of grind. | Supplemental |
| Transfer materials, supplies, and products between work areas, using moving equipment and hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Test samples of materials or products to ensure compliance with specifications, using test equipment. | Supplemental |
| Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory testing. | Supplemental |
| Mark bins as to types of mixtures stored. | Supplemental |
| Turn valves to regulate the moisture contents of materials. | Supplemental |
| Load materials into machinery and equipment, using hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Add or mix chemicals and ingredients for processing, using hand tools or other devices. | Supplemental |
1.36/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions. | E2 structured facilities |
| Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials. | E2 structured facilities |
| Examine materials, ingredients, or products, visually or with hands, to ensure conformance to established standards. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Reject defective products and readjust equipment to eliminate problems. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean work areas. | E2 structured facilities |
| Dislodge and clear jammed materials or other items from machinery and equipment, using hand tools. | E0 none |
| Inspect chains, belts, or scrolls for signs of wear. | E2 structured facilities |
| Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set mill gauges to specified fineness of grind. | E2 structured facilities |
| Transfer materials, supplies, and products between work areas, using moving equipment and hand tools. | E2 structured facilities |
| Test samples of materials or products to ensure compliance with specifications, using test equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory testing. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Mark bins as to types of mixtures stored. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Turn valves to regulate the moisture contents of materials. | E2 structured facilities |
| Load materials into machinery and equipment, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Add or mix chemicals and ingredients for processing, using hand tools or other devices. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 27K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 26K
- Change (2025–35)
- -1.7%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $48,540
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81111 | 곡물 및 사료 제분기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 81112 | 조미료 제분기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 81113 | 도정기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 81119 | 그 외 제분 및 도정 관련 기계 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 83121 | 화학물 분쇄기·마쇄기 및 혼합기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 84341 | 광석 및 석재 가공장치 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 81903 | 설탕 제조 관련 기계 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 83229 | 그 외 타이어 및 고무제품 생산기 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 84331 | 시멘트 및 석회 제조 관련 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 84342 | 석제품 가공기 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 84391 | 유약 생산기 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 84399 | 그 외 비금속제품 관련 생산기 조작원 | Related, not a match | 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 8112Mineral and Stone Processing Plant Operators
- ISCO-08 8114Cement, Stone and Other Mineral Products Machine Operators
- ISCO-08 8141Rubber Products Machine Operators
- ISCO-08 8181Glass and Ceramics Plant 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.
- mineral processing operatorESCO 8112.2This occupation is narrower
Mineral processing operators operate a variety of plants and equipment to convert raw materials into marketable products. They provide the appropriate information on the process to the control room.
- 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.
- distillery millerESCO 8160.26This occupation is broader
Distillery millers tend distillery mills in order to clean and grind whole grain for use in production of distilled liquors. They tend cleaning machines to remove impurities from grains followed by the grinding and weighing of grains. They perform daily maintenance on pumps, air-conveyor chutes and machines.
- 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.
- liquor grinding mill operatorESCO 8160.42This occupation is broader
Liquor grinding mill operators run mills that grind cracked cocoa beans or nibs of cocoa bean paste as to obtain liquid chocolate of specified consistency. They operate hoppers by sliding their gates to release cocoa nibs which then go through grinding stones.
- mineral crushing operatorESCO 8112.1This occupation is broader
Mineral crushing operators operate and monitor crushers and other machines to crush materials and minerals. They move stones to the crushers, fill the machines with minerals, monitor the crushing process and ensure that the end products meet requirements.
- soap chipperESCO 8131.19.1This occupation is broader
Soap chippers operate the machinery that turns soap bars into soap chips, making sure the end product is according to specifications. They also handle the transfer and storage of soap chips.
- 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.
- stone polisherESCO 8114.7Overlapping, not the same
Stone polishers operate grinding and polishing tools and equipment in order to smooth stones.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| H3309 | Préparateur / Préparatrice de mélange en industrie | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| H2810 | Agent / Agente technique de centrale à enrobés | Related, not a match |
| H2809 | Opérateur / Opératrice de poste centralisé en cimenterie | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| H3303 | Cuisinier / Cuisinière en industrie chimique | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| H3401 | Opérateur / Opératrice de traitement d'abrasion de surface | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 8112 | Operadores en instalaciones para la preparación de minerales y rocas | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 8114 | Operadores de maquinaria para fabricar productos derivados de minerales no metálicos | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 8160 | Operadores de máquinas para elaborar productos alimenticios, bebidas y tabaco | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 21212 | Berufe in der Naturstein- und Mineralaufbereitung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the same |
| 24222 | Berufe in der schleifenden Metallbearbeitung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 29212 | Berufe in der Mühlenprodukt- und Futtermittelherstellung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 21213 | Berufe in der Naturstein- und Mineralaufbereitung - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 531 | 化学製品製造従事者 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 532 | 窯業・土石製品製造従事者 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 533 | 食料品製造従事者 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
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