Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners salary in the U.S.
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners in the U.S. earn a median of $50,060 a year ($24.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,170 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $53,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,350 | $16.99 |
| 25th percentile | $40,800 | $19.61 |
| Median | $50,060 | $24.07 |
| 75th percentile | $62,150 | $29.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,170 | $37.10 |
| Average (mean) | $53,240 | $25.59 |
Half of tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,171.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,085.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,925.38 |
| Weekly | $962.69 |
| Hourly | $24.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $75,190 | 410 |
| Oregon | $60,760 | 430 |
| Idaho | $59,250 | 100 |
| Ohio | $56,690 | 190 |
| Massachusetts | $56,600 | 40 |
| Louisiana | $56,380 | 40 |
| Mississippi | $55,510 | 50 |
| Kansas | $54,100 | n/a |
| Missouri | $52,540 | 150 |
| Minnesota | $51,990 | 90 |
| Iowa | $51,760 | 60 |
| California | $51,300 | 620 |
| Wisconsin | $51,240 | 110 |
| South Carolina | $50,220 | 80 |
| Montana | $49,560 | n/a |
| New Jersey | $49,470 | n/a |
| Indiana | $48,700 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $47,360 | 40 |
| New York | $47,070 | 170 |
| Georgia | $46,800 | 240 |
| Maine | $46,750 | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $46,380 | 40 |
| Texas | $46,000 | 530 |
| North Carolina | $45,790 | 160 |
| Oklahoma | $45,600 | 60 |
| Kentucky | $44,170 | 50 |
| Michigan | $43,470 | 260 |
| Alabama | $41,720 | 220 |
| Connecticut | $39,710 | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,550 | 170 |
| Arkansas | $38,410 | 160 |
| Virginia | $38,370 | 80 |
| Tennessee | $36,920 | 200 |
| Florida | $36,880 | 120 |
| Colorado | $33,970 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $102,390 | 170 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $75,630 | 50 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $64,350 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,890 | 30 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $62,790 | 40 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $62,300 | n/a |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $61,820 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $61,550 | 100 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $60,760 | 220 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $55,100 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $53,340 | 30 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $51,690 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $50,120 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $48,580 | 110 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,760 | n/a |
Metro areas with the most tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 290 | $46,580 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 220 | $60,760 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 170 | $102,390 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 150 | $43,470 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 110 | $48,580 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 100 | $61,550 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 70 | $44,050 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 50 | $75,630 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 50 | $51,690 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 50 | $50,120 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 40 | $44,170 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 40 | $61,820 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 40 | $62,790 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 30 | $55,100 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 30 | $64,350 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4194. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners make in the U.S.?
The median salary for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners in the U.S. is $50,060 a year, or $24.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners in the U.S. earn at least $77,170 a year. The top 25% earn $62,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,350 a year, and a quarter of tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners earn $40,800 or less.
How many tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners work in the U.S.?
About 5,600 tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.