Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,350 | $16.99 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $50,060 | $24.07 |
| Mean (average) | $53,240 | $25.59 |
| 90th percentile | $77,170 | $37.10 |
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
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 35 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $41,720 | $26,970 | $62,710 | 220 | 2.92 |
| Arkansas | $38,410 | $29,260 | $67,040 | 160 | 3.32 |
| California | $51,300 | $39,480 | $70,960 | 620 | 0.95 |
| Colorado | $33,970 | $33,350 | $36,670 | ||
| Connecticut | $39,710 | $34,080 | $98,180 | 130 | 2.14 |
| Florida | $36,880 | $32,040 | $46,890 | 120 | 0.34 |
| Georgia | $46,800 | $38,520 | $70,200 | 240 | 1.36 |
| Idaho | $59,250 | $48,000 | $75,550 | 100 | 3.39 |
| Indiana | $48,700 | $36,520 | $75,070 | 110 | 0.91 |
| Iowa | $51,760 | $43,140 | $72,010 | 60 | 1.08 |
| Kansas | $54,100 | $46,950 | $58,510 | ||
| Kentucky | $44,170 | $38,990 | $76,450 | 50 | 0.76 |
| Louisiana | $56,380 | $43,370 | $61,550 | 40 | 0.6 |
| Maine | $46,750 | $36,110 | $64,590 | 60 | 2.63 |
| Massachusetts | $56,600 | $48,300 | $56,600 | 40 | 0.29 |
| Michigan | $43,470 | $30,450 | $67,550 | 260 | 1.63 |
| Minnesota | $51,990 | $35,780 | $76,790 | 90 | 0.82 |
| Mississippi | $55,510 | $36,960 | $64,370 | 50 | 1.09 |
| Missouri | $52,540 | $42,390 | $61,550 | 150 | 1.39 |
| Montana | $49,560 | $39,790 | $60,190 | ||
| Nebraska | $47,360 | $39,150 | $57,060 | 40 | 1.14 |
| New Hampshire | $46,380 | $39,420 | $64,080 | 40 | 1.68 |
| New Jersey | $49,470 | $37,820 | $72,030 | ||
| New York | $47,070 | $38,050 | $57,980 | 170 | 0.48 |
| North Carolina | $45,790 | $33,280 | $69,250 | 160 | 0.92 |
| Ohio | $56,690 | $40,450 | $91,890 | 190 | 0.93 |
| Oklahoma | $45,600 | $29,740 | $59,410 | 60 | 0.93 |
| Oregon | $60,760 | $44,350 | $81,370 | 430 | 6.13 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,550 | $29,670 | $62,060 | 170 | 0.78 |
| South Carolina | $50,220 | $39,930 | $73,980 | 80 | 0.96 |
| Tennessee | $36,920 | $25,450 | $60,160 | 200 | 1.67 |
| Texas | $46,000 | $32,200 | $78,620 | 530 | 1.04 |
| Virginia | $38,370 | $29,870 | $65,160 | 80 | 0.54 |
| Washington | $75,190 | $52,330 | $108,720 | 410 | 3.2 |
| Wisconsin | $51,240 | $38,960 | $84,470 | 110 | 1.03 |
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 tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 2.6%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- 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
- Machine Shop Technology/Assistant CIP 48.0503
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- ANCA ToolRoom
- IBM Lotus Notes
- Vero Software Edgecam
- Zoller
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Equipment Selection.
Common job titles: Crankshaft Grinder, Cutter Grind Tool Technician (Cutter Grind Tool Tech), Cutter Grinder, Grinder, Grinder Operator, OD Grinder Operator (Outer Diameter Grinder Operator), Polisher, Saw Filer, Tool and Cutter Grinder, Tool 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 tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners make?
The national median annual wage for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners was $50,060 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $35,350 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $77,170. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent 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 tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners a growing career?
BLS projects employment of tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners to change -6.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($75,190), Oregon ($60,760), Idaho ($59,250). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.