Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.
National median · BLS
$50,060
▲ +2.23%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$53,240
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
5,600
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$35,350
25th
$40,800
Median (50th)
$50,060
75th
$62,150
90th — top pay
$77,170
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
BLS projects employment of tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners to decline 6.8% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 500 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
5,800 → 5,400
-400 jobs
Projected change
-6.8%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
500
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
2.6% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners do
Monitor machine operations to determine whether adjustments are necessary, stopping machines when problems occur.
Select and mount grinding wheels on machines, according to specifications, using hand tools and applying knowledge of abrasives and grinding procedures.
Set up and operate grinding or polishing machines to grind metal workpieces, such as dies, parts, and tools.
Inspect, feel, and measure workpieces to ensure that surfaces and dimensions meet specifications.
Perform basic maintenance, such as cleaning and lubricating machine parts.
Remove finished workpieces from machines and place them in boxes or on racks, setting aside pieces that are defective.
Study blueprints or layouts of metal workpieces to determine grinding procedures, and to plan machine setups and operational sequences.
Dress grinding wheels, according to specifications.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $50,060.
