How to become a tool grinder, filers, and sharpeners

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

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..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.

What tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners do

• 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.
• 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.

Skills that matter most

• Monitoring
• Critical Thinking
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Mathematics
• Active Learning
• Writing

Is tool grinder, filers, and sharpeners a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 2% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Washington $75,190
• Oregon $60,760
• Idaho $59,250
• Ohio $56,690
• Massachusetts $56,600

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.