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Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners: Career Profile
Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.
What Tasks Do Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Perform?
Typical responsibilities of tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners cover:
- Monitor machine operations to determine whether adjustments are necessary, stopping machines when problems occur.
- Inspect, feel, and measure workpieces to ensure that surfaces and dimensions meet specifications.
- Study blueprints or layouts of metal workpieces to determine grinding procedures, and to plan machine setups and operational sequences.
- Select and mount grinding wheels on machines, according to specifications, using hand tools and applying knowledge of abrasives and grinding procedures.
- 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.
What Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Need to Know
Effective tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Card Grinder
- Computer Numerical Control Grinding Technician (CNC Grinding Technician)
- Crankshaft Grinder
- Cutter Grind Tool Technician
- Cutter Grinder
- Cutting Tool Sharpener
- Cylinder Grinder
- Deburrer
How Many Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Are There?
The U.S. employs around 285,618 tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -4.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $55,632 |
| Hourly median | $26.75 |
| 10th percentile | $40,295 |
| 25th percentile | $47,964 |
| 75th percentile | $63,301 |
| 90th percentile | $70,969 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $72,390 |
| Idaho | $65,500 |
| New Jersey | $64,510 |
| Oregon | $59,850 |
| Nebraska | $58,240 |
| Georgia | $57,740 |
| Ohio | $56,470 |
| Massachusetts | $54,760 |
| Kentucky | $53,780 |
| Kansas | $52,390 |
| Minnesota | $51,700 |
| Louisiana | $50,900 |
| California | $50,060 |
| South Carolina | $50,030 |
| Missouri | $49,700 |
| Maine | $48,840 |
| Mississippi | $48,320 |
| Wisconsin | $48,080 |
| Colorado | $47,170 |
| Michigan | $46,020 |
| Indiana | $45,830 |
| North Carolina | $44,230 |
| Iowa | $43,400 |
| New York | $43,260 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,680 |
| New Hampshire | $42,000 |
| Alabama | $40,440 |
| Oklahoma | $40,110 |
| Florida | $38,870 |
| Arkansas | $38,650 |
| Texas | $38,190 |
| Tennessee | $35,600 |
| Virginia | $34,310 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $65,500 | 1.2% | 1.76 |
| Far Western US | $59,771 | 29.6% | 3.07 |
| Plains States | $50,754 | 4.2% | 0.81 |
| Great Lakes | $49,436 | 17.3% | 1.78 |
| Southeast | $43,942 | 24.8% | 1.72 |
| Middle Atlantic | $42,877 | 9.6% | 1.14 |
| Southwest | $38,440 | 8.8% | 0.81 |
| New England | $24,745 | 4.6% | 2.30 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $91,850 | 240 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | WA | $72,570 | 40 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $61,360 | 200 |
| Cleveland, OH | OH | $60,730 | 40 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | OR | $59,010 | 60 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $57,740 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $53,020 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $52,660 | 40 |
Which Industries Hire Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
Most tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 4,400 | $50,380 |
| Wholesale Trade | 510 | $40,040 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 470 | $42,030 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 200 | $33,110 |
| Retail Trade | 130 | $36,170 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Spend Time Standing
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How to Become Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
Most tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Supplemental)
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery (Supplemental)
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Short)
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Future tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners commonly pursue programs in:
Precision Production
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-4194.00 (Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners).
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