Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.
Also called: Cutter Grinder · Finisher · Grinder · Grinder Operator · OD Grinder Operator (Outer Diameter Grinder Operator) · Saw Filer
Median pay (national)
$48,970
$33,770–$74,120 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
5,730
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-7.8%
~500 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $74,120 versus $33,770 at the bottom 10% — 2.2x. The median of $48,970 leaves roughly 51% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -7.8% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 33 states with released data, Washington pays the most for this role (median $72,390, +48% vs the national median), while Virginia sits lowest at $34,310 — a 111% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Speaking
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Inspect, feel, and measure workpieces to ensure that surfaces and dimensions meet specifications.
- Select and mount grinding wheels on machines, according to specifications, using hand tools and applying knowledge of abrasives and grinding procedures.
- File or finish surfaces of workpieces, using prescribed hand tools.
- Perform basic maintenance, such as cleaning and lubricating machine parts.
- Monitor machine operations to determine whether adjustments are necessary, stopping machines when problems occur.
- Study blueprints or layouts of metal workpieces to determine grinding procedures, and to plan machine setups and operational sequences.
- Compute numbers, widths, and angles of cutting tools, micrometers, scales, and gauges, and adjust tools to produce specified cuts.
- Turn valves to direct flow of coolant against cutting wheels and workpieces during grinding.
- Set up and operate grinding or polishing machines to grind metal workpieces, such as dies, parts, and tools.
- Dress grinding wheels, according to specifications.
Tools & technology
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- ANCA ToolRoom
- IBM Lotus Notes
- Vero Software Edgecam
- Zoller
- Microsoft Excel
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Engineering and Technology