SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 51-4194.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $35,350 | $2,946 | $680 | $16.99 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $40,800 | $3,400 | $785 | $19.61 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $50,060 | $4,172 | $963 | $24.07 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $62,150 | $5,179 | $1,195 | $29.88 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $77,170 | $6,431 | $1,484 | $37.10 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners is $50,060, which is about the same. Among the 105 occupations of the field Production, it ranks number 36 by median pay. With 5,600 jobs, it makes up about 0.4 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners pay by state
The highest median pay was in Washington ($75,190), Oregon ($60,760) and Idaho ($59,250). The lowest was in Colorado ($33,970), Florida ($36,880) and Tennessee ($36,920). The most jobs were in California (620), Texas (530) and Oregon (430). The occupation is most concentrated in Oregon, where its share of all jobs is 6.1 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 410 | $75,190 | $76,330 | $36.15 |
| Oregon | 430 | $60,760 | $62,730 | $29.21 |
| Idaho | 100 | $59,250 | $61,330 | $28.49 |
| Ohio | 190 | $56,690 | $60,000 | $27.25 |
| Massachusetts | 40 | $56,600 | $54,060 | $27.21 |
| Louisiana | 40 | $56,380 | $53,670 | $27.11 |
| Mississippi | 50 | $55,510 | $53,750 | $26.69 |
| Kansas | not published | $54,100 | $53,620 | $26.01 |
| Missouri | 150 | $52,540 | $54,380 | $25.26 |
| Minnesota | 90 | $51,990 | $55,290 | $25.00 |
| Iowa | 60 | $51,760 | $56,900 | $24.88 |
| California | 620 | $51,300 | $53,440 | $24.66 |
| Wisconsin | 110 | $51,240 | $52,560 | $24.64 |
| South Carolina | 80 | $50,220 | $52,090 | $24.15 |
| Montana | not published | $49,560 | $49,340 | $23.83 |
| New Jersey | not published | $49,470 | $53,290 | $23.78 |
| Indiana | 110 | $48,700 | $52,080 | $23.41 |
| Nebraska | 40 | $47,360 | $48,780 | $22.77 |
| New York | 170 | $47,070 | $47,650 | $22.63 |
| Georgia | 240 | $46,800 | $51,400 | $22.50 |
| Maine | 60 | $46,750 | $50,150 | $22.48 |
| New Hampshire | 40 | $46,380 | $49,400 | $22.30 |
| Texas | 530 | $46,000 | $51,740 | $22.12 |
| North Carolina | 160 | $45,790 | $48,270 | $22.02 |
| Oklahoma | 60 | $45,600 | $46,350 | $21.92 |
| Kentucky | 50 | $44,170 | $52,120 | $21.23 |
| Michigan | 260 | $43,470 | $48,830 | $20.90 |
| Alabama | 220 | $41,720 | $44,240 | $20.06 |
| Connecticut | 130 | $39,710 | $53,800 | $19.09 |
| Pennsylvania | 170 | $39,550 | $42,920 | $19.01 |
| Arkansas | 160 | $38,410 | $45,320 | $18.47 |
| Virginia | 80 | $38,370 | $44,180 | $18.45 |
| Tennessee | 200 | $36,920 | $40,370 | $17.75 |
| Florida | 120 | $36,880 | $39,420 | $17.73 |
| Colorado | not published | $33,970 | $35,910 | $16.33 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,620 a year
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,270 a year
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,140 a year
- Patternmakers, Wood$49,630 a year
- Dental Laboratory Technicians$49,610 a year
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,080 a year
Common questions
How much do Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners earn in the United States?
The median pay was $50,060 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,350 and the highest-paid 10% more than $77,170.
How many people work as Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners?
About 5,600 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.