Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
SOC code 51-4194 · O*NET-SOC 51-4194.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$50,060
a year
Hourly
$24.07
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$53,240
$25.59 per hour
Middle 50%
$40,800 – $62,150
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$35,350 – $77,170
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
5,600
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $35,350
- $16.99/hr
- 25th percentile
- $40,800
- $19.61/hr
- Median percentile
- $50,060
- $24.07/hr
- 75th percentile
- $62,150
- $29.88/hr
- 90th percentile
- $77,170
- $37.10/hr
What do tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners do?
Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Monitor machine operations to determine whether adjustments are necessary, stopping machines when problems occur.
- Select and mount grinding wheels on machines, according to specifications, using hand tools and applying knowledge of abrasives and grinding procedures.
- Set up and operate grinding or polishing machines to grind metal workpieces, such as dies, parts, and tools.
- Inspect, feel, and measure workpieces to ensure that surfaces and dimensions meet specifications.
- Perform basic maintenance, such as cleaning and lubricating machine parts.
- Remove finished workpieces from machines and place them in boxes or on racks, setting aside pieces that are defective.
- Turn valves to direct flow of coolant against cutting wheels and workpieces during grinding.
- Study blueprints or layouts of metal workpieces to determine grinding procedures, and to plan machine setups and operational sequences.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners earn?
The national median is $50,060 a year. The full range runs from $35,350 at the 10th percentile to $77,170 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
- Active Listening2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Mathematics4.0/5
- Mechanical3.8/5
- Production and Processing3.6/5
- English Language3.3/5
- Engineering and Technology3.2/5
- Education and Training3.0/5
- Design3.0/5
- Physics2.9/5
Transferable strengths: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Equipment Selection.