Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Machines can already do 21% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 61%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 21% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2033, and 61% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 10,510 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $42,660 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 63% for contact with people.
- Also called: Buffer, Casting Finisher, Chipper, Finisher.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grind, sand, clean, or polish objects or parts to correct defects or to prepare surfaces for further finishing, using hand tools and power tools | 44% | 20% to 60% | |
| Trim, scrape, or deburr objects or parts, using chisels, scrapers, and other hand tools and equipment | 10% | 20% to 60% | |
| Verify quality of finished workpieces by inspecting them, comparing them to templates, measuring their dimensions, or testing them in working machinery | 9% | 20% to 60% | |
| Load and adjust workpieces onto equipment or work tables, using hand tools | 6% | 20% to 60% | |
| Remove completed workpieces from equipment or work tables, using hand tools, and place workpieces in containers | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Move controls to adjust, start, or stop equipment during grinding and polishing processes | 4% | 20% to 60% | |
| File grooved, contoured, and irregular surfaces of metal objects, such as metalworking dies and machine parts, to conform to templates, other parts, layouts, or blueprint specifications | 4% | 20% to 60% | |
| Transfer equipment, objects, or parts to specified work areas, using moving devices | 4% | 30% to 75% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills grinding and polishing workers, hand use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing60% of tasks by 2035 · US median $43,380
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders60% of tasks by 2035 · US median $43,220
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic60% of tasks by 2035 · US median $46,550
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers59% of tasks by 2035 · US median $53,710
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2033. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of grinding and polishing workers, hand?
Machines can do 21% of the tasks of grinding and polishing workers, hand today and 61% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 51-9022.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/grinding-and-polishing-workers-hand/