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.
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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.
Related Job Titles
- 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.

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.

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:

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

Who Employs Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners?

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

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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