Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Career, Salary and Skills

Occupation description

Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.

National salary and employment

Top skills

Typical tasks

• 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.
• Study blueprints or layouts of metal workpieces to determine grinding procedures, and to plan machine setups and operational sequences.
• Dress grinding wheels, according to specifications.
• Monitor machine operations to determine whether adjustments are necessary, stopping machines when problems occur.

Technology

• ANCA ToolRoom
• Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
• IBM Lotus Notes
• Microsoft Excel
• Vero Software Edgecam
• Zoller

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners salary by location

Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.

• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Salary in CA
  Median $51,300 · Employment 620
• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Salary in TX
  Median $46,000 · Employment 530
• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Salary in OR
  Median $60,760 · Employment 430
• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Salary in WA
  Median $75,190 · Employment 410
• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Salary in Los Angeles, CA
  Median $46,580 · Employment 290
• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Salary in MI
  Median $43,470 · Employment 260
• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Salary in GA
  Median $46,800 · Employment 240
• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Salary in AL
  Median $41,720 · Employment 220
• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Salary in Portland, OR
  Median $60,760 · Employment 220
• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Salary in TN
  Median $36,920 · Employment 200
• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Salary in OH
  Median $56,690 · Employment 190
• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Salary in PA
  Median $39,550 · Employment 170

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