Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. Includes chippers, buffers, and finishers.
National median · BLS
$42,660
▲ +2.33%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$45,020
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
10,510
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$33,480
25th
$37,450
Median (50th)
$42,660
75th
$49,980
90th — top pay
$60,810
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 Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
BLS projects employment of grinding and polishing workers, hand to decline 19.2% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 700 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
10,800 → 8,700
-2,100 jobs
Projected change
-19.2%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
700
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
2.5% 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.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Quality Control Analysis3.4
Operations Monitoring3.3
Equipment Maintenance3.1
Operation and Control3.1
Repairing3.0
Active Listening2.9
Critical Thinking2.9
Speaking2.9
Troubleshooting2.9
Complex Problem Solving2.8
Top knowledge areas
Production and Processing3.6
Mechanical3.6
English Language3.1
Mathematics2.8
Education and Training2.7
Customer and Personal Service2.6
Engineering and Technology2.5
Administration and Management2.4
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Word
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 grinding and polishing workers, hand do
Verify quality of finished workpieces by inspecting them, comparing them to templates, measuring their dimensions, or testing them in working machinery.
Grind, sand, clean, or polish objects or parts to correct defects or to prepare surfaces for further finishing, using hand tools and power tools.
Measure and mark equipment, objects, or parts to ensure grinding and polishing standards are met.
Trim, scrape, or deburr objects or parts, using chisels, scrapers, and other hand tools and equipment.
Mark defects, such as knotholes, cracks, and splits, for repair.
Study blueprints or layouts to determine how to lay out workpieces or saw out templates.
Move controls to adjust, start, or stop equipment during grinding and polishing processes.
Load and adjust workpieces onto equipment or work tables, using hand tools.
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 Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $42,660.
