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Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Production · SOC 51-9022
0.0% AI Exposure — Low
$42,660
Median Annual Salary
Average
O*NET Outlook
2,600
Proj. Annual Openings
10,510
Employment (OEWS 2025)
100/100
AI Resiliency Score
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
AI Exposure Analysis
AI Exposure0.0%
AI Resiliency100/100
Exposure BandLow
Sector Avg. Exposure0.8%
Top Skills
1.Quality Control Analysis
2.Operations Monitoring
3.Operation and Control
4.Equipment Maintenance
5.Repairing
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
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.
Common titles: Buffer, Casting Finisher, Chipper, Finisher, Grinder, Jewelry Polisher
Representative Tasks
- •Verify quality of finished workpieces by inspecting them, comparing them to templates, measuring their dimensions, or testing them in working machinery.
- •Grind, sand, clean, or polish objects or parts to correct defects or to prepare surfaces for further finishing, using hand tools and power tools.
- •Measure and mark equipment, objects, or parts to ensure grinding and polishing standards are met.
- •Trim, scrape, or deburr objects or parts, using chisels, scrapers, and other hand tools and equipment.
- •Mark defects, such as knotholes, cracks, and splits, for repair.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Compare physical characteristics of materials or products to specifications or standards.
- •Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
- •Clean workpieces or finished products.
- •Polish materials, workpieces, or finished products.
- •Smooth metal surfaces or edges.
Tools & Technologies
Microsoft Excel · hotMicrosoft Word · hot
Related Occupations
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticTool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersWoodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingCutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersMolders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic · Bright
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
15
Occupations Shown
0.5%
Avg AI Exposure
1
Bright Outlook
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| Outlook | Average | 4% Bright |
| Median Salary | $42,660 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 100/100 | N/A |