Jobs Similar to Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also called: Grinding and Buffing Machine Tool Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: $46,550 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
- 1Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
84% similar · $52,800 (+13%) · High school · Same group
- 2Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
83% similar · $45,760 (−2%) · High school
- 3Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
83% similar · $46,570 (0%) · High school
- 4Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
83% similar · $46,330 (0%) · High school · Same group
- 5Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
83% similar · $38,760 (−17%) · High school
- 6Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
83% similar · $50,690 (+9%) · High school
- 7Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
82% similar · $50,060 (+8%) · High school · Same group
- 8Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
82% similar · $49,030 (+5%) · High school · Same group
- 9Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
82% similar · $49,080 (+5%) · High school · Same group
- 10Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
82% similar · $50,140 (+8%) · High school · Same group
- 11Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
82% similar · $44,350 (−5%) · High school · Same group
- 12Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
82% similar · $38,180 (−18%) · High school
- 13Power Plant Operators
81% similar · $102,040 (+119%) · High school
- 14Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
81% similar · $46,350 (0%) · High school
- 15Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
81% similar · $43,380 (−7%) · High school
- 16Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
81% similar · $41,330 (−11%) · High school
- 17Tire Builders
81% similar · $57,390 (+23%) · High school
- 18Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
81% similar · $47,180 (+1%) · High school · Same group
- 19Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
81% similar · $96,710 (+108%) · High school
- 20Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
81% similar · $53,710 (+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, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.
- Power Plant Operators81% similar · $102,040 (+119%)
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers81% similar · $96,710 (+108%)
- Tire Builders81% similar · $57,390 (+23%)
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers81% similar · $53,710 (+15%)
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic84% similar · $52,800 (+13%)
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators83% similar · $50,690 (+9%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (93)
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (93)
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing (91)
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators (90)
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (89)
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand (88)
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (87)
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (87)
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders (86)
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (85)
Questions about jobs like grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
What jobs are most similar to grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (84% similar), Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (83% similar), Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (83% similar), Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (83% similar) and Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (83% similar).
Which jobs like grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Power Plant Operators ($102,040, +119%; usually a high school diploma), Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers ($96,710, +108%; usually a high school diploma) and Tire Builders ($57,390, +23%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic ($46,550). Without more preparation than grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic usually need: Power Plant Operators, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers and Tire Builders.
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.