Grinders/Polishers
Description OES Code: 93953
Grind and polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a wide variety of metal, stone, clay, plastic, and glass objects or parts. Include Grinders and Chippers, Polishers and Buffers, Metal Sanders and Finishers, Glass Grinders and Polishers, and Plastic Buffers and Finishers.

Wages, California
Entry-Level Hourly Wage $7.00
25th Percentile $7.55
50th Percentile $9.06
75th Percentile $11.26

Wages, San Joaquin County
Entry-Level Hourly Wage $7.34
25th Percentile $8.24
50th Percentile $11.10
75th Percentile $14.67

Wages by California County
• OES Survey
• CCOIS Survey

Employment Trends, California
Employment 1998 9,500
Projected Employment 2008 10,800
Percent Change 1998-2008 13.7%
Separations 1998-2008 2,700

Employment Trends, San Joaquin County
Employment 1999 90
Projected Employment 2006 110
Percent Change 1999-2006 22.2%
Separations 1999-2006 20

Employment Trends by California County

Working Conditions
Working for this occupation can be noisy, and in most cases, grinders/polishers are required to wear protective gear such as safety glasses, to protect against flying particles.

Getting the Job & Other Information
Hand grinders and polishers may find employment in the following industries: Sawmills and Planing Mills; Wood Products; Household Furniture; Products of Purchased Glass; Pottery and Related Products; Cut Stone and Stone Products; Primary Metal Industries; Cutlery, Handtools, and Hardware; Fabricated Structural Metal Products; Ordnance and Accessories; Misc. Fabricated Metal Products; Special Industry Machinery; Motor Vehicles and Equipment; Ship and Boat Building and Repairing; Miscellaneous Transportation Equipment; Jewelry, Silverware, and Plated Ware; Miscellaneous Plastics Products.

For a list of current job listing, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.

Skills & Other Requirements
Important skills for hand grinders and polishers may include: Adhere To Safety Procedures; Adjust/Operate Production Equipment; Analyze Tasks Needed To Complete Machined Metal Products; Apply Basic Math (Arithmetic, Ratios, Proportions & Conversions); Apply Fabrication Techniques; Apply Metal Shaping Processes; Apply Quality Assurance Techniques; Assemble Metal Components; Coordinate Production Materials & Processes; Estimate Materials For Production & Manufacturing; Exploit Properties Of Metals; File Metal/Plastic; Mix And Apply Protective Coatings To Products; Move And Lift Heavy Objects; Operate Buff/Polishing Machine; Operate Grinding Machines; Operate Precision Measuring Tools & Equipment In Industrial Production, Manufact; Operate Shape/Forming Machines; Read Blueprints/Technical Drawings; Read Production Layouts; Read Technical Drawings & Specifications; Read/Follow Complex Instructions; Read/Understand Operating Manuals; Recognize Characteristics Of Metals; Solve MachineTool Problems; Understand Manufacturing Methods & Techniques; Use Fire Suppression Methods In Industrial Emergencies; Use Hand Tools; Use Hand/Power Tools; Use Specialized Tools

References
Oregon Labor Market Information System Occupational Information System

Related Occupations: Numerical Control Machine Operators

Training: California Training and Education Providers (CTEP)