Production

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

9/100
#749 of 825
$50,060
median pay, U.S.
5,600
employed (2024)
-7.8%
growth, 2024–34
500
openings per year
High school diploma or equivalent
typical entry education

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

It scores 9/100 and ranks #749 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • No college degree typically required to enter

Possible tradeoffs

  • Pays below the U.S. median wage ($50,060 vs $61,390)
  • Employment is projected to decline (-7.8% through 2034)

What tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners earn between $40,800 and $62,150 a year.

Best-paying states

Washington statewide
$75,190
Oregon statewide
$60,760
Idaho statewide
$59,250
Ohio statewide
$56,690
Massachusetts statewide
$56,600
Louisiana statewide
$56,380
Mississippi statewide
$55,510
Kansas statewide
$54,100
Missouri statewide
$52,540
Minnesota statewide
$51,990
$20k $70k $120k

Best-paying metros

01 Seattle, WA $102,390
02 Eugene, OR $75,630
03 Dayton, OH $64,350
04 Sacramento, CA $62,890
05 Minneapolis, MN $62,790
06 Houston, TX $62,300
07 Longview, WA $61,820
08 St. Louis, MO $61,550

Strongest employment concentration

01 California 620
02 Texas 530
03 Oregon 430
04 Washington 410
05 Michigan 260
06 Georgia 240

Live tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners jobs

No live tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners openings yet

When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners openings will appear here — each shown against the $50,060 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.

No placeholder listings · nothing invented

How to become a tool grinders, filers, and sharpener

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Related occupations

High school diploma or equivalent · $53,750 median
Postsecondary nondegree award · $64,050 median
High school diploma or equivalent · $43,960 median
Questions about becoming a tool grinders, filers, and sharpener
How much do tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners make?

The national median wage is $50,060 a year, with the middle half earning between $40,800 and $62,150 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

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

On the Jobs.best index it scores 9 of 100 and ranks #749 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -7.8% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a tool grinders, filers, and sharpener?

The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.

Where do tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners earn the most?

Among states, Washington pays the highest median ($75,190). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34. How we score careers →