Jobs Similar to Grinding and Polishing Workers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to grinding and polishing workers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Engine and Other Machine Assemblers, Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.
Grinding and Polishing Workers: $42,660 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
81% similar · $53,710 (+26%) · High school
- 2Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
81% similar · $46,330 (+9%) · High school
- 3Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
81% similar · $48,250 (+13%) · High school · Same group
- 4Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
80% similar · $61,290 (+44%) · High school
- 5Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
80% similar · $46,350 (+9%) · High school
- 6Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
80% similar · $46,570 (+9%) · High school · Same group
- 7Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
80% similar · $42,770 (0%) · High school
- 8Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
80% similar · $50,060 (+17%) · High school
- 9Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
80% similar · $50,270 (+18%) · High school · Same group
- 10Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
80% similar · $46,960 (+10%) · High school
- 11Helpers--Extraction Workers
79% similar · $47,730 (+12%) · High school
- 12Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $38,180 (−11%) · High school
- 13Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
79% similar · $46,170 (+8%) · High school · Same group
- 14Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
79% similar · $52,800 (+24%) · High school
- 15Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $43,220 (+1%) · High school · Same group
- 16Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
79% similar · $38,760 (−9%) · High school
- 17Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $46,460 (+9%) · High school · Same group
- 18Automotive Body and Related Repairers
78% similar · $54,890 (+29%) · High school
- 19Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
78% similar · $54,430 (+28%) · High school
- 20Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
78% similar · $49,080 (+15%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than grinding and polishing workers.
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons80% similar · $61,290 (+44%)
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers78% similar · $54,890 (+29%)
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders78% similar · $54,430 (+28%)
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers81% similar · $53,710 (+26%)
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic79% similar · $52,800 (+24%)
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders80% similar · $50,270 (+18%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for grinding and polishing workers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where grinding and polishing workers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (90)
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (88)
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (88)
- Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders (87)
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners (87)
- Furniture Finishers (85)
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (84)
- Foundry Mold and Coremakers (84)
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (83)
- Pourers and Casters, Metal (83)
Questions about jobs like grinding and polishing workers
What jobs are most similar to grinding and polishing workers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (81% similar), Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (81% similar), Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (81% similar), Refractory Materials Repairers (80% similar) and Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (80% similar).
Which jobs like grinding and polishing workers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Refractory Materials Repairers ($61,290, +44%; usually a high school diploma), Automotive Body and Related Repairers ($54,890, +29%; usually a high school diploma) and Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders ($54,430, +28%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with grinding and polishing workers ($42,660). Without more preparation than grinding and polishing workers usually need: Refractory Materials Repairers, Automotive Body and Related Repairers and Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.