Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Career, Salary and Skills
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $42,660 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 10,510. Wage data is published for 92 locations.
Occupation description
Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. Includes chippers, buffers, and finishers.
O*NET code
51-9022.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$42,660
Hourly median
$20.51
Employment
10,510
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.38 | 3.00 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Operation and Control | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Repairing | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.88 | 2.62 |
| Troubleshooting | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Speaking | 2.88 | 2.38 |
| Active Listening | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.75 | 2.62 |
Typical tasks
- Verify quality of finished workpieces by inspecting them, comparing them to templates, measuring their dimensions, or testing them in working machinery.
- Grind, sand, clean, or polish objects or parts to correct defects or to prepare surfaces for further finishing, using hand tools and power tools.
- Measure and mark equipment, objects, or parts to ensure grinding and polishing standards are met.
- Trim, scrape, or deburr objects or parts, using chisels, scrapers, and other hand tools and equipment.
- Mark defects, such as knotholes, cracks, and splits, for repair.
- Study blueprints or layouts to determine how to lay out workpieces or saw out templates.
- Move controls to adjust, start, or stop equipment during grinding and polishing processes.
- Clean brass particles from files by drawing file cards through file grooves.
Technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Salary in CAMedian $44,450 · Employment 1,850
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $44,660 · Employment 880
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Salary in TXMedian $38,170 · Employment 840
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Salary in MIMedian $44,430 · Employment 650
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Salary in INMedian $38,810 · Employment 620
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Salary in AZMedian $38,280 · Employment 560
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Salary in FLMedian $39,480 · Employment 510
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Salary in Phoenix, AZMedian $38,280 · Employment 490
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Salary in OHMedian $40,310 · Employment 490
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Salary in New York, NYMedian $51,000 · Employment 450
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Salary in NYMedian $47,240 · Employment 440
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Salary in NCMedian $37,600 · Employment 330
Related careers
- Industrial Machinery MechanicsNational median $64,520
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersNational median $46,460
- Shoe Machine Operators and TendersNational median $35,650
- Maintenance Workers, MachineryNational median $60,850
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $49,030
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $47,180
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodNational median $42,770
- Cutters and Trimmers, HandNational median $38,020
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.