51-4033.00

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.

9.2OUT OF 10SAFEHIGH RISK
High Risk

The bots have your desk already — start pivoting

Top 5% most at-risk occupations we track

Frey & Osborne (2013) estimated 95% probability of automation for this role
paper →
Top 5%
most at-risk
50
jobs riskier than this
-12.0%
projected growth

Disruption Vector

Disruption Type

Physical Robots

Physical robotics, autonomous machines, and automated equipment are the main threat to the physical tasks in this occupation.

Grinding, Lapping, and Polishing Machine Operators work on precision finishing of metal and plastic parts. CNC grinding centers and AI-driven adaptive grinding systems (STUDER, ANCA with AI) are increasingly automating the parameter setting and feedback adjustment that operators once did manually. Complex, low-volume, and custom grinding work retains human operators for setup judgment. Through 2027, the role evolves toward CNC oversight and first-article inspection rather than manual machine operation.

Disrupted byBoston DynamicsAmazon RoboticsTesla Optimus

Salary & Job Outlook

Median Annual Pay
$45,190
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
10-Year Job Growth
-12.0%
Declining
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2 / 5

AI Risk Timeline

9.2
9.9
10.0
10.0
Today
5 Years
10 Years
20 Years

Projection model: Based on current AI capability growth rates. High-risk occupations are projected to see compounding automation pressure, while human-centric roles show slower risk accumulation. These are statistical projections, not guarantees.

Skills Analysis — AI Vulnerability

AI can replicate (0)
AI-resistant (1)
Mixed
Active Listening65%
Speaking60%
Coordination62%
Monitoring58%
Time Management55%

Career Pivot Paths

Share Your Results

amicooked-five.vercel.app

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

9.2
/ 10
High Risk
92% automation risk

"Your job is so automatable, AI finished this analysis before you loaded the page."

Tweet preview

I just checked if I'm cooked as a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 🤖 AI risk score: 9.2/10 — High Risk "Your job is so automatable, AI finished this analysis before you loaded the page." Check yours 👇 https://amicooked-five.vercel.app/results/51-4033.00 #AmICooked #AI #FutureOfWork

Your score badge

AM I COOKED?

GRINDING, LAPPING, POLISHING, AND BUFFING MACHINE TOOL SETTERS, OPERATORS, AND TENDERS, METAL AND PLASTIC
9.2

/ 10

HIGH RISK

amicooked-five.vercel.app

Screenshot this card to share on Instagram or TikTok 📸

You're more at risk than a Security Management Specialists (score: 3.4). Maybe it's time to rethink.

This analysis is for informational purposes only and is based on statistical models and academic research. It does not constitute career advice and is not a guarantee of future employment outcomes. AI impact varies significantly by employer, region, and individual circumstances. Learn about our methodology →