Occupation Details
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$33,580.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$47,700.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$50,870.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
1,460
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
1,620
+16 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
183
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.1%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
School Programs information is not available for this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Adjustable wrenches
- Ammeters
- Belt scales
- Chipping hammers
- Claw hammers
- Comealongs
- Desktop computers
- Dollies
- Forklifts
- Front end loaders
- Grease guns
- Handtrucks
- Holding clamps
- Hole cutters
- Hole punches
- Layout squares
- Locking pliers
- Mallets
- Material-hoisting slings
- Measuring tapes
- Mini loaders
- Overhead cranes
- Personal computers
- Phillips head screwdrivers
- Picks
- Power drills
- Power grinders
- Pressurized air cleaners
- Protective ear plugs
- Pry bars
Technology
- Email software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Word
- SAP business and customer relations management software
- Spreadsheet software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- test manufactured products or materials
- maintain production or work records
- attach or mark identification onto products or containers
- measure, weigh, or count products or materials
- adjust production equipment/machinery setup
- maintain or repair industrial or related equipment/machinery
- clean equipment or machinery
- inspect machinery or equipment to determine adjustments or repairs needed
- read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
- maintain consistent production quality
- perform safety inspections in manufacturing or industrial setting
- examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
- clean rooms or work areas
- monitor production machinery/equipment operation to detect problems
- mix paint, ingredients, or chemicals, according to specifications
- collect samples for testing
- load or unload material or workpiece into machinery
- confer with engineering, technical or manufacturing personnel
- operate chemical processing equipment
- operate crushing or grinding machine
- use precision measuring tools or equipment
- operate pulp or paper making equipment
- operate metal or plastic fabricating equipment/machinery
- operate textile production equipment/machinery
- operate food processing production equipment/machinery
- use hand or power tools
- operate ore refining/foundry equipment/machinery
- operate glass or stone working equipment/machinery
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.
- Examine materials, ingredients, or products, visually or with hands, to ensure conformance to established standards.
- Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials.
- Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
- Test samples of materials or products to ensure compliance with specifications, using test equipment.
- Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements.
- Read work orders to determine production specifications and information.
- Dislodge and clear jammed materials or other items from machinery and equipment, using hand tools.
- Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
- Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.
- Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory testing.
- Set mill gauges to specified fineness of grind.
- Load materials into machinery and equipment, using hand tools.
- Clean work areas.
- Notify supervisors of needed repairs.
- Reject defective products and readjust equipment to eliminate problems.
- Transfer materials, supplies, and products between work areas, using moving equipment and hand tools.
- Inspect chains, belts, or scrolls for signs of wear.
- Mark bins as to types of mixtures stored.
- Turn valves to regulate the moisture contents of materials.
- Add or mix chemicals and ingredients for processing, using hand tools or other devices.
- Break mixtures to size, using picks.

