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

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move97.4% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$46,570
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move96.5% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 13% higher.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$52,800
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersLateral Move92.6% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 8% higher.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$50,060
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move95.7% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 9% higher.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$50,620
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move94.3% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 8% higher.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$50,140
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move92.7% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 4% higher.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$48,540
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move94.6% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$46,330
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodLateral Move94.2% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 8% lower.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$42,770
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move94.6% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 17% lower.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$38,760
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station OperatorsCareer Change92.8% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 66% higher.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$77,320
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersLateral Move94.4% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 25% higher.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$58,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move95.7% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 3% higher.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$47,720
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersLateral Move96% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$46,460
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Power Plant OperatorsLateral Move95.6% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Power Plant Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Power Plant Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 119% higher.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$102,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and TendersLateral Move94.7% skill match
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 11% lower.
Current median salary
$46,550
Target median salary
$41,330
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.