Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners (SOC 51-4194) earn a median $50,060 a year ($24.07 an hour) in the United States, with 5,600 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners do
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners put precise edges and surfaces on metal tools and parts, such as dies, parts, and tools. The job uses grinding and polishing machines. The worker studies blueprints to decide the grinding procedure and setup, chooses and mounts an abrasive wheel suited to the material, and calculates the angles, widths, and number of cutting edges required. While the machine runs, coolant is directed onto the wheel and the work, and the operator watches the process, stopping it when a problem arises. Surfaces are inspected, felt by hand, and measured with micrometers and gauges to confirm they meet the stated dimensions. Grinding wheels are dressed to specification. Operators who tend grinding machines on production work are classified separately with grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine operators.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Card Grinder, Computer Numerical Control Grinding Technician (CNC Grinding Technician), Crankshaft Grinder, Cutter Grind Tool Technician, Cutter Grinder.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.99 | $19.61 | $24.07 | $29.88 | $37.10 | $25.59 | 5,600 |
| Annual | $35,350 | $40,800 | $50,060 | $62,150 | $77,170 | $53,240 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $25.16 | $29.46 | $36.15 | $40.48 | $52.27 | $36.70 | 410 | 0.12 | 3.20 |
| Annual | $52,330 | $61,270 | $75,190 | $84,210 | $108,720 | $76,330 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $21.32 | $24.07 | $29.21 | $36.28 | $39.12 | $30.16 | 430 | 0.22 | 6.13 |
| Annual | $44,350 | $50,070 | $60,760 | $75,450 | $81,370 | $62,730 | ||||
| Idaho | Hourly | $23.08 | $24.14 | $28.49 | $36.19 | $36.32 | $29.49 | 100 | 0.12 | 3.39 |
| Annual | $48,000 | $50,200 | $59,250 | $75,270 | $75,550 | $61,330 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $19.45 | $23.36 | $27.25 | $32.86 | $44.18 | $28.85 | 190 | 0.03 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $40,450 | $48,580 | $56,690 | $68,360 | $91,890 | $60,000 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $23.22 | $23.77 | $27.21 | $27.21 | $27.21 | $25.99 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.29 |
| Annual | $48,300 | $49,430 | $56,600 | $56,600 | $56,600 | $54,060 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.98 | $21.02 | $24.66 | $29.58 | $34.12 | $25.69 | 620 | 0.03 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $39,480 | $43,710 | $51,300 | $61,520 | $70,960 | $53,440 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $15.48 | $18.32 | $22.12 | $29.98 | $37.80 | $24.88 | 530 | 0.04 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $32,200 | $38,100 | $46,000 | $62,350 | $78,620 | $51,740 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $21.32 | $24.07 | $29.21 | $36.28 | $39.12 | $30.16 | 430 | 0.22 | 6.13 |
| Annual | $44,350 | $50,070 | $60,760 | $75,450 | $81,370 | $62,730 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $25.16 | $29.46 | $36.15 | $40.48 | $52.27 | $36.70 | 410 | 0.12 | 3.20 |
| Annual | $52,330 | $61,270 | $75,190 | $84,210 | $108,720 | $76,330 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $14.64 | $20.90 | $20.90 | $26.57 | $32.48 | $23.48 | 260 | 0.06 | 1.63 |
| Annual | $30,450 | $43,470 | $43,470 | $55,270 | $67,550 | $48,830 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $31.01 | $33.36 | $49.23 | $52.27 | $55.47 | $43.82 | 170 | 0.08 | 2.21 |
| Annual | $64,500 | $69,390 | $102,390 | $108,720 | $115,380 | $91,150 | ||||
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | Hourly | $24.21 | $27.77 | $36.36 | $37.60 | $39.12 | $32.59 | 50 | 0.30 | 8.30 |
| Annual | $50,350 | $57,760 | $75,630 | $78,210 | $81,370 | $67,790 | ||||
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | Hourly | $20.46 | $25.74 | $30.94 | $30.94 | $31.38 | $27.24 | 30 | 0.08 | 2.30 |
| Annual | $42,550 | $53,540 | $64,350 | $64,350 | $65,270 | $56,650 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $17.35 | $20.37 | $30.23 | $30.23 | $37.12 | $26.52 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $36,080 | $42,360 | $62,890 | $62,890 | $77,210 | $55,160 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $18.86 | $20.68 | $30.19 | $35.79 | $41.84 | $29.07 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $39,220 | $43,010 | $62,790 | $74,450 | $87,030 | $60,470 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $19.62 | $20.23 | $22.39 | $24.85 | $29.10 | $23.76 | 290 | 0.05 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $40,800 | $42,080 | $46,580 | $51,680 | $60,520 | $49,420 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $22.03 | $22.47 | $29.21 | $34.30 | $44.44 | $30.25 | 220 | 0.18 | 4.94 |
| Annual | $45,820 | $46,730 | $60,760 | $71,340 | $92,420 | $62,930 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $31.01 | $33.36 | $49.23 | $52.27 | $55.47 | $43.82 | 170 | 0.08 | 2.21 |
| Annual | $64,500 | $69,390 | $102,390 | $108,720 | $115,380 | $91,150 | ||||
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | Hourly | $17.26 | $20.90 | $20.90 | $24.00 | $26.57 | $22.13 | 150 | 0.25 | 7.00 |
| Annual | $35,900 | $43,470 | $43,470 | $49,920 | $55,270 | $46,030 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $19.00 | $20.07 | $23.36 | $26.84 | $32.29 | $24.45 | 110 | 0.01 | 0.33 |
| Annual | $39,530 | $41,740 | $48,580 | $55,840 | $67,150 | $50,850 | ||||
Top industries employing tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners
Sawmills and Wood Preservation employ 23.8% of tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners nationally (1,330 jobs) at a median $61,340 a year ($29.49 an hour), followed by Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance (11.4%) and Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (8.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sawmills and Wood Preservation NAICS 321100 | 1,330 | 23.8% | $61,340 | $29.49 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811300 | 640 | 11.4% | $46,600 | $22.40 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336400 | 490 | 8.8% | $61,550 | $29.59 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) NAICS 3320A1 | 390 | 7.0% | $51,790 | $24.90 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing NAICS 311600 | 300 | 5.4% | $40,390 | $19.42 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (5,600). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $38,430 for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners in May 2021 and $50,060 in May 2025, with employment of 6,100 and 5,600.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $38,430 | $18.48 | 6,100 |
| May 2022 | $41,940 | $20.16 | 5,320 |
| May 2023 | $46,410 | $22.31 | 6,660 |
| May 2024 | $48,970 | $23.54 | 5,730 |
| May 2025 | $50,060 | $24.07 | 5,600 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
35 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $36.15 | $75,190 | $52,330 | $108,720 | 410 | 0.12 | 3.20 |
| 2 | Oregon profile | $29.21 | $60,760 | $44,350 | $81,370 | 430 | 0.22 | 6.13 |
| 3 | Idaho profile | $28.49 | $59,250 | $48,000 | $75,550 | 100 | 0.12 | 3.39 |
| 4 | Ohio profile | $27.25 | $56,690 | $40,450 | $91,890 | 190 | 0.03 | 0.93 |
| 5 | Massachusetts profile | $27.21 | $56,600 | $48,300 | $56,600 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.29 |
| 6 | Louisiana profile | $27.11 | $56,380 | $43,370 | $61,550 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.60 |
| 7 | Mississippi profile | $26.69 | $55,510 | $36,960 | $64,370 | 50 | 0.04 | 1.09 |
| 8 | Kansas profile | $26.01 | $54,100 | $46,950 | $58,510 | ** | ** | ** |
| 9 | Missouri profile | $25.26 | $52,540 | $42,390 | $61,550 | 150 | 0.05 | 1.39 |
| 10 | Minnesota profile | $25.00 | $51,990 | $35,780 | $76,790 | 90 | 0.03 | 0.82 |
| 11 | Iowa profile | $24.88 | $51,760 | $43,140 | $72,010 | 60 | 0.04 | 1.08 |
| 12 | California profile | $24.66 | $51,300 | $39,480 | $70,960 | 620 | 0.03 | 0.95 |
| 13 | Wisconsin profile | $24.64 | $51,240 | $38,960 | $84,470 | 110 | 0.04 | 1.03 |
| 14 | South Carolina profile | $24.15 | $50,220 | $39,930 | $73,980 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.96 |
| 15 | Montana profile | $23.83 | $49,560 | $39,790 | $60,190 | ** | ** | ** |
| 16 | New Jersey profile | $23.78 | $49,470 | $37,820 | $72,030 | ** | ** | ** |
| 17 | Indiana profile | $23.41 | $48,700 | $36,520 | $75,070 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.91 |
| 18 | Nebraska profile | $22.77 | $47,360 | $39,150 | $57,060 | 40 | 0.04 | 1.14 |
| 19 | New York profile | $22.63 | $47,070 | $38,050 | $57,980 | 170 | 0.02 | 0.48 |
| 20 | Georgia profile | $22.50 | $46,800 | $38,520 | $70,200 | 240 | 0.05 | 1.36 |
| 21 | Maine profile | $22.48 | $46,750 | $36,110 | $64,590 | 60 | 0.10 | 2.63 |
| 22 | New Hampshire profile | $22.30 | $46,380 | $39,420 | $64,080 | 40 | 0.06 | 1.68 |
| 23 | Texas profile | $22.12 | $46,000 | $32,200 | $78,620 | 530 | 0.04 | 1.04 |
| 24 | North Carolina profile | $22.02 | $45,790 | $33,280 | $69,250 | 160 | 0.03 | 0.92 |
| 25 | Oklahoma profile | $21.92 | $45,600 | $29,740 | $59,410 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.93 |
| 26 | Kentucky profile | $21.23 | $44,170 | $38,990 | $76,450 | 50 | 0.03 | 0.76 |
| 27 | Michigan profile | $20.90 | $43,470 | $30,450 | $67,550 | 260 | 0.06 | 1.63 |
| 28 | Alabama profile | $20.06 | $41,720 | $26,970 | $62,710 | 220 | 0.11 | 2.92 |
| 29 | Connecticut profile | $19.09 | $39,710 | $34,080 | $98,180 | 130 | 0.08 | 2.14 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania profile | $19.01 | $39,550 | $29,670 | $62,060 | 170 | 0.03 | 0.78 |
| 31 | Arkansas profile | $18.47 | $38,410 | $29,260 | $67,040 | 160 | 0.12 | 3.32 |
| 32 | Virginia profile | $18.45 | $38,370 | $29,870 | $65,160 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.54 |
| 33 | Tennessee profile | $17.75 | $36,920 | $25,450 | $60,160 | 200 | 0.06 | 1.67 |
| 34 | Florida profile | $17.73 | $36,880 | $32,040 | $46,890 | 120 | 0.01 | 0.34 |
| 35 | Colorado profile | $16.33 | $33,970 | $33,350 | $36,670 | ** | ** | ** |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-4190), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-4194 Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-4194, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-4194.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.