Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners: Career Overview
Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners include:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Card Grinder
- Computer Numerical Control Grinding Technician (CNC Grinding Technician)
- Crankshaft Grinder
- Cutter Grind Tool Technician
- Cutter Grinder
- Cutting Tool Sharpener
- Cylinder Grinder
- Deburrer
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 285,618 tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners working in the United States today. Demand is forecast 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 |
Wages vary widely 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 |
Where Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Earn the Most
Earnings for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| 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 |
Top Industries Employing Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
The largest employers of tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners work in these industries:
| 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 |
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners reflects 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
Entry-level tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating 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)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners often complete programs in:
Precision Production
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes 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).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.