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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $46,890 in the US and is projected to decline by 2% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.56 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Active Listening.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £31,717 a year for Process operatives n.e.c. (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 8119). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Plant and machine operators and assemblers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 8. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Administration and Management
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Public Safety and Security
- Mathematics
- Mechanical
- Administrative
What you'd actually do
- Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.
- Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
- Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
- Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials.
- Notify supervisors of needed repairs.
- Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders do?
Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
How much does Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders earn?
The median annual salary for Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders in the US is $46,890.
What is the job outlook for Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders?
The role is projected to decline by 2% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 28,700 workers.
How do I become crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Active Listening, Coordination. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Our AI-durability model gives Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders a score of 0.56 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.