Grinding and polishing workers, hand salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,480 | $16.09 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $42,660 | $20.51 |
| Mean (average) | $45,020 | $21.64 |
| 90th percentile | $60,810 | $29.23 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Grinding and polishing workers, hand pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 40 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $35,620 | $26,420 | $50,280 | 150 | 1.07 |
| Arizona | $38,280 | $38,270 | $60,190 | 560 | 2.55 |
| Arkansas | $38,960 | $34,640 | $53,920 | 140 | 1.56 |
| California | $44,450 | $36,050 | $64,710 | 1,850 | 1.5 |
| Colorado | $40,600 | $36,540 | $57,250 | 70 | 0.38 |
| Connecticut | $48,670 | $40,270 | $63,450 | 230 | 1.98 |
| Delaware | $47,780 | $31,200 | $56,830 | 40 | 1.16 |
| Florida | $39,480 | $31,730 | $49,380 | 510 | 0.77 |
| Georgia | $40,660 | $31,060 | $63,560 | 220 | 0.65 |
| Illinois | $36,590 | $33,280 | $38,160 | 60 | 0.15 |
| Indiana | $38,810 | $34,590 | $51,540 | 620 | 2.88 |
| Iowa | $47,280 | $39,300 | $50,600 | ||
| Kansas | $48,410 | $32,650 | $68,640 | 100 | 0.99 |
| Louisiana | $33,160 | $27,650 | $40,160 | 90 | 0.69 |
| Maryland | $48,390 | $37,630 | $56,190 | ||
| Massachusetts | $42,700 | $37,580 | $63,140 | 170 | 0.67 |
| Michigan | $44,430 | $34,820 | $60,490 | 650 | 2.17 |
| Minnesota | $51,930 | $39,450 | $63,340 | 120 | 0.62 |
| Mississippi | $40,280 | $31,150 | $44,560 | 30 | 0.41 |
| Missouri | $47,360 | $44,760 | $63,360 | 180 | 0.89 |
| Montana | $50,460 | $44,060 | $50,700 | ||
| Nevada | $45,310 | $38,100 | $65,200 | 90 | 0.88 |
| New Hampshire | $47,920 | $42,950 | $62,230 | 40 | 0.8 |
| New Jersey | $47,840 | $35,380 | $61,900 | 300 | 1.03 |
| New Mexico | $28,640 | $26,460 | $40,940 | 120 | 2.03 |
| New York | $47,240 | $38,220 | $82,160 | 440 | 0.67 |
| North Carolina | $37,600 | $31,200 | $58,260 | 330 | 0.99 |
| Ohio | $40,310 | $31,720 | $58,260 | 490 | 1.31 |
| Oklahoma | $38,340 | $32,380 | $48,080 | 160 | 1.41 |
| Oregon | $42,380 | $38,030 | $64,540 | 160 | 1.21 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,510 | $31,680 | $54,000 | 140 | 0.35 |
| Rhode Island | $51,630 | $34,790 | $65,020 | 130 | 3.71 |
| South Carolina | $45,710 | $33,100 | $60,270 | 260 | 1.69 |
| Tennessee | $33,830 | $27,040 | $41,740 | 80 | 0.34 |
| Texas | $38,170 | $28,430 | $49,370 | 840 | 0.88 |
| Vermont | $56,850 | $50,000 | $73,900 | 50 | 2.54 |
| Virginia | $48,830 | $32,860 | $71,960 | 330 | 1.18 |
| Washington | $47,290 | $36,470 | $66,330 | 90 | 0.36 |
| West Virginia | $39,870 | $39,140 | $53,290 | ||
| Wisconsin | $47,790 | $35,740 | $57,400 | 290 | 1.46 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for grinding and polishing workers, hand
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 2.5%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for grinding and polishing workers, hand
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Quality Control Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Troubleshooting.
Common job titles: Buffer, Casting Finisher, Chipper, Finisher, Grinder, Jewelry Polisher, Knife Grinder, Metal Finisher, Polisher, Stand Grinder.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do grinding and polishing workers, hand make?
The national median annual wage for grinding and polishing workers, hand was $42,660 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $33,480 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $60,810. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do grinding and polishing workers, hand need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is grinding and polishing workers, hand a growing career?
BLS projects employment of grinding and polishing workers, hand to change -19.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay grinding and polishing workers, hand the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Vermont ($56,850), Minnesota ($51,930), Rhode Island ($51,630). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.