Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand salary by state
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.
Top skills:Quality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlEquipment MaintenanceRepairingTroubleshooting
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand pay by experience level
Entry level$34,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$39,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$44,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$51,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$63,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-21.2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
800
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand salary by industry
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
1,760 workers
$47,000
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
1,330 workers
$49,500
Miscellaneous Manufacturing
1,300 workers
$45,000
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
1,200 workers
$47,500
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
1,090 workers
$45,000
Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
780 workers
$44,000
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing
760 workers
$41,000
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only)
760 workers
$41,000
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing
670 workers
$46,500
Plastics Product Manufacturing
560 workers
$44,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand pays 17% below the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
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