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Tool Grinder, Filer, or Sharpener

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What Does it Take to Be a Tool Grinder, Filer, or Sharpener?

Job Description & Duties Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.

Life As a Tool Grinder, Filer, or Sharpener: What Do They Do?

  • Remove finished workpieces from machines and place them in boxes or on racks, setting aside pieces that are defective.
  • Place workpieces in electroplating solutions or apply pigments to surfaces of workpieces to highlight ridges and grooves.
  • Compute numbers, widths, and angles of cutting tools, micrometers, scales, and gauges, and adjust tools to produce specified cuts.
  • Set up and operate grinding or polishing machines to grind metal workpieces, such as dies, parts, and tools.
  • Monitor machine operations to determine whether adjustments are necessary, stopping machines when problems occur.
  • Dress grinding wheels, according to specifications.

Skills Needed to be a Tool Grinder, Filer, or Sharpener

These are the skills Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners say are the most useful in their careers:

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

  • Universal Grinder Set-Up Operator
  • Grinder Operator
  • Tool Dresser
  • Die Sharpener
  • Outer Diameter Technician (OD Technician)

Is There Going to be Demand for Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners?

There were about 9,500 jobs for Tool Grinder, Filer, or Sharpener in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Tool Grinder, Filer, or Sharpener. There will be an estimated 1,100 positions for Tool Grinder, Filer, or Sharpener per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Tool Grinder, Filer, or Sharpener are Georgia, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Missouri, or Michigan. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Tool Grinder, Filer, or Sharpener Salary

The salary for Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners ranges between about $25,090 and $60,740 a year.

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Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners who work in Washington, New Hampshire, or Iowa, make the highest salaries.

How much do Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $31,840
Arizona $35,070
Arkansas $40,720
California $41,060
Connecticut $43,370
Florida $35,320
Georgia $38,400
Idaho $44,240
Illinois $45,790
Indiana $43,260
Iowa $47,170
Kansas $31,240
Kentucky $40,090
Louisiana $38,040
Maine $41,510
Maryland $57,390
Massachusetts $43,060
Michigan $43,160
Minnesota $37,070
Mississippi $33,800
Missouri $33,230
Montana $34,810
Nebraska $44,740
New Hampshire $48,080
New Jersey $29,250
New York $40,910
North Carolina $43,660
Ohio $41,170
Oklahoma $39,060
Oregon $44,470
Pennsylvania $42,290
South Carolina $42,380
South Dakota $35,560
Tennessee $38,530
Texas $39,750
Vermont $43,310
Virginia $31,650
Washington $62,380
Wisconsin $33,850

What Tools do Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
  • IBM Lotus Notes
  • Edgecam

How do I Become a Tool Grinder, Filer, or Sharpener?

Education needed to be a Tool Grinder, Filer, or Sharpener:

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Tool Grinder, Filer, or Sharpener?

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Who Employs Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners?

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Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners work in the following industries:

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References:

Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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