Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-9022.00
Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. Includes chippers, buffers, and finishers.
- 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
0.17–0.19· 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 7224Metal Polishers, Wheel Grinders and Tool Sharpeners0.17
- ISCO-08 7315Glass Makers, Cutters, Grinders and Finishers0.19
Task-level exposure
Show 19 hidden tasks20 rated tasks · 1 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (5.0%)
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
- 3 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are 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
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 |
|---|---|
Record product and processing data on specified forms.O*NET Task ID 14335 | 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®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (17)
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 |
|---|---|
| Grind, sand, clean, or polish objects or parts to correct defects or to prepare surfaces for further finishing, using hand tools and power tools. | Core |
| Mark defects, such as knotholes, cracks, and splits, for repair. | Core |
| Move controls to adjust, start, or stop equipment during grinding and polishing processes. | Core |
| Select files or other abrasives, according to materials, sizes and shapes of workpieces, amount of stock to be removed, finishes specified, and steps in finishing processes. | Core |
| Measure and mark equipment, objects, or parts to ensure grinding and polishing standards are met. | Core |
| Verify quality of finished workpieces by inspecting them, comparing them to templates, measuring their dimensions, or testing them in working machinery. | Core |
| Trim, scrape, or deburr objects or parts, using chisels, scrapers, and other hand tools and equipment. | Core |
| Load and adjust workpieces onto equipment or work tables, using hand tools. | Core |
| Transfer equipment, objects, or parts to specified work areas, using moving devices. | Core |
| Study blueprints or layouts to determine how to lay out workpieces or saw out templates. | Core |
| Repair and maintain equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools. | Core |
| Sharpen abrasive grinding tools, using machines and hand tools. | Core |
| File grooved, contoured, and irregular surfaces of metal objects, such as metalworking dies and machine parts, to conform to templates, other parts, layouts, or blueprint specifications. | Core |
| Record product and processing data on specified forms. | Supplemental |
| Remove completed workpieces from equipment or work tables, using hand tools, and place workpieces in containers. | Supplemental |
| Apply solutions and chemicals to equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Clean brass particles from files by drawing file cards through file grooves. | Supplemental |
1.01/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Grind, sand, clean, or polish objects or parts to correct defects or to prepare surfaces for further finishing, using hand tools and power tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Mark defects, such as knotholes, cracks, and splits, for repair. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Move controls to adjust, start, or stop equipment during grinding and polishing processes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Select files or other abrasives, according to materials, sizes and shapes of workpieces, amount of stock to be removed, finishes specified, and steps in finishing processes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure and mark equipment, objects, or parts to ensure grinding and polishing standards are met. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Verify quality of finished workpieces by inspecting them, comparing them to templates, measuring their dimensions, or testing them in working machinery. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Trim, scrape, or deburr objects or parts, using chisels, scrapers, and other hand tools and equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Load and adjust workpieces onto equipment or work tables, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Transfer equipment, objects, or parts to specified work areas, using moving devices. | E2 structured facilities |
| Repair and maintain equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Sharpen abrasive grinding tools, using machines and hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| File grooved, contoured, and irregular surfaces of metal objects, such as metalworking dies and machine parts, to conform to templates, other parts, layouts, or blueprint specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove completed workpieces from equipment or work tables, using hand tools, and place workpieces in containers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Apply solutions and chemicals to equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean brass particles from files by drawing file cards through file grooves. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 11K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 9K
- Change (2025–35)
- -19.2%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $42,660
- Typical education needed for entry
- No formal educational credential
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93099 | 그 외 제조 관련 단순 종사원 | 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 7224Metal Polishers, Wheel Grinders and Tool Sharpeners
- ISCO-08 7315Glass Makers, Cutters, Grinders and Finishers
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.
- glass polisherESCO 8181.9This occupation is broader
Glass polishers finish plate glass to make a variety of glass products. They polish the edges of the glass using grinding and polishing wheels, and spray solutions on glass or operate vacuum coating machines to provide a mirrored surface.
- 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.
- stone polisherESCO 8114.7This occupation is broader
Stone polishers operate grinding and polishing tools and equipment in order to smooth stones.
- 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 7523.5This occupation is broader
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 |
|---|---|---|
| H3406 | Opérateur / Opératrice en polissage de bijouterie ou d'orfèvrerie | This occupation is broader |
| H3405 | Polisseur / Polisseuse en bijouterie ou joaillerie ou orfèvrerie | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H3401 | Opérateur / Opératrice de traitement d'abrasion de surface | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| H3408 | Metteur au point polisseur / Metteuse au point polisseuse sur matrice en orfèvrerie | Related, not a match |
| H3409 | Polisseur / Polisseuse sur verre | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 7324 | Pulidores de metales y afiladores de herramientas | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 7122 | Canteros, tronzadores, labrantes y grabadores de piedras | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 7615 | Sopladores, modeladores, laminadores, cortadores y pulidores de vidrio | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 22302 | Berufe in der Holzbe- und -verarbeitung (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 24222 | Berufe in der schleifenden Metallbearbeitung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the same |
| 21342 | Berufe in der Glasveredelung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 527 | 金属彫刻・表面処理従事者 | Overlapping, not the same |
| 529 | その他の製品製造・加工処理従事者（金属製品） | Related, not a match |
| 532 | 窯業・土石製品製造従事者 | 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