Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
AI Impact Summary
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 38/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 76% of all analyzed occupations. Of 22 analyzed tasks, 3 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
22 tasks analyzed
Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions.
Examine materials, ingredients, or products, visually or with hands, to ensure conformance to established standards.
Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials.
Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
Test samples of materials or products to ensure compliance with specifications, using test equipment.
Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements.
Read work orders to determine production specifications and information.
Dislodge and clear jammed materials or other items from machinery and equipment, using hand tools.
Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms.
Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory testing.
Set mill gauges to specified fineness of grind.
Load materials into machinery and equipment, using hand tools.
Clean work areas.
Notify supervisors of needed repairs.
Transfer materials, supplies, and products between work areas, using moving equipment and hand tools.
Reject defective products and readjust equipment to eliminate problems.
Inspect chains, belts, or scrolls for signs of wear.
Mark bins as to types of mixtures stored.
Turn valves to regulate the moisture contents of materials.
Add or mix chemicals and ingredients for processing, using hand tools or other devices.
Break mixtures to size, using picks.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observe operation of equipment to ensure continuity of flow, safety, and efficient operation, and to detect malfunctions. | 60Estimated | 57.0% | 14% | |
| Examine materials, ingredients, or products, visually or with hands, to ensure conformance to established standards. | 50Estimated | 53.0% | 8% | |
| Move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment that crushes, grinds, polishes, or blends materials. | 50Estimated | 53.0% | 8% | |
| Clean, adjust, and maintain equipment, using hand tools. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 5% | |
| Test samples of materials or products to ensure compliance with specifications, using test equipment. | 80Estimated | 81.2% | 5% | |
| Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products at specified intervals to ensure conformance to requirements. | 55Estimated | 55.0% | 5% | |
| Read work orders to determine production specifications and information. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 3% | |
| Dislodge and clear jammed materials or other items from machinery and equipment, using hand tools. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 4% | |
| Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps and conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 5% | |
| Record data from operations, testing, and production on specified forms. | 20.35Observed | 57.3% | 4% | |
| Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory testing. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Set mill gauges to specified fineness of grind. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 3% | |
| Load materials into machinery and equipment, using hand tools. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 6% | |
| Clean work areas. | 50Estimated | 53.0% | 4% | |
| Notify supervisors of needed repairs. | 40Estimated | 31.0% | 2% | |
| Transfer materials, supplies, and products between work areas, using moving equipment and hand tools. | 60Estimated | 57.0% | 5% | |
| Reject defective products and readjust equipment to eliminate problems. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 3% | |
| Inspect chains, belts, or scrolls for signs of wear. | 60Estimated | 57.0% | 3% | |
| Mark bins as to types of mixtures stored. | 85Estimated | 83.2% | 2% | |
| Turn valves to regulate the moisture contents of materials. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 2% | |
| Add or mix chemicals and ingredients for processing, using hand tools or other devices. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Break mixtures to size, using picks. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 26.9%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$46,890
per year
Mean Wage
$49,400
per year
Employment
29K
workers
Wage Range
$35,380 - $65,980
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Equipment Maintenance
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Instructing
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 1 scoring run