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Overview
Grinding machine operator work is about setting up, programming and controlling grinding machines that remove small amounts of excess metal and smooth workpieces with abrasive wheels.
In job descriptions, look for CNC controllers, surface grinders, blueprints, tooling instructions, cutting depth, rotation speed, precision measuring, lubricants, machine maintenance and quality checks.
Explore this occupation
Open in Job ExplorerWork context
Grinding machine operators work with metal workpieces, abrasive wheels, CNC controllers, blueprints and measurement checks. They set up machines, program grinding controls, adjust depth and rotation speed, run test pieces and maintain equipment so surfaces meet tolerance and quality requirements.
Skills and specializations
Important strengths include CAM software, surface grinders, precision measuring equipment, geometric dimensions and tolerances, lubricants, statistical process control, machine maintenance and blueprint reading. Specialization can develop around CNC grinding, precision metalworking, quality inspection or production data records.
Salary context
Salary context is shaped by tolerance level, CNC programming, setup responsibility, material difficulty, shift pattern, inspection duties and maintenance knowledge. Operators trusted with precision settings and quality records may be positioned differently from roles focused on basic machine tending.
Career paths
Development can move from machine tending into CNC setup, precision grinding, quality control, maintenance support, production planning or team lead work. Broader CAD, CAM and process-control experience can support movement into manufacturing technician or CNC specialist roles.
Good to know
Vacancies should name the machine type, metals, tolerances and measuring tools. Check whether the job includes programming CNC controllers, reading blueprints, changing abrasive wheels, supplying tools, recording production data or only monitoring an automated grinder.
Editorial note
This guide gives editorial career context for grinding machine operator work. It is not official labour-market statistics or salary data.
Map overview
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— Jobs total — Countries with jobs
O*NET relationships
See occupations connected to this ESCO occupation in the official O*NET–ESCO mapping. The relationship type comes from the source and is not a ranking or recommendation.
O*NET relationships: 4
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
51-4194.00
Close relationship
The occupations are closely related, but the official mapping does not treat them as exact equivalents.
Open in O*NETMilling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4035.00
Close relationship
The occupations are closely related, but the official mapping does not treat them as exact equivalents.
Open in O*NETGrinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4033.00
O*NET occupation is broader
The O*NET occupation covers a broader field of work than this ESCO occupation.
Open in O*NETCrushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
51-9021.00
O*NET occupation is broader
The O*NET occupation covers a broader field of work than this ESCO occupation.
Open in O*NETSource and method
These relationships come from the official European Commission O*NET–ESCO crosswalk.
Relationship direction: O*NET occupation to ESCO occupation.
Several O*NET occupations can point to the same ESCO occupation, and one O*NET occupation can point to several ESCO occupations.
AltoTrail preserves the source relationship type. The order is technical and does not show which occupation is best, most relevant or recommended.
AltoTrail validates and presents the source relationships without adding ranking or recommendation semantics.
Alternative labels
metal filing machine operator
back grinding machine operator
grinding and stapling machine apprentice
grinding machine set-up worker
lapping machine operator
CNC grinding machine technician
polishing machine operator
linisher
fettler
convex grinder operator
grinding machine worker
grinding machine set-up operator
grinding machine setter
grinding machine set-up operative
automatic grinding machine technician
carbon grinding machine operator
buffing machine operator
tool grinding machine operator
linishing machine worker
CNC grinding machine inspector
grinding machine inspector
grinding machine operative
grinding machine technican
abrasive wheel operator
linishing machine operative
abrasive wheel machine operator
convex grinder
filing and grinding machine operator
automatic grinding machine inspector
carbon plant grinding machinist
grinding and stapling machine operative
foundry grinder
grinding room operative
linishing machine operator
Occupation group
computer numerical control machine operator (7223.4)
Source facts
| ESCO URI | http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/1d8545df-e3d8-4ece-9449-0f2940e97e7c |
|---|---|
| ESCO code | 7223.4.2 |
| ISCO group | 7223 |
| Concept type | Occupation |