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Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

ManufacturingO*NET 51-9022.00United States

Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. Includes chippers, buffers, and finishers.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$42,417

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
−15.5%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
High school diploma or less

64.1% of the workforce

Employment
11.65K jobs

Growing to 9.84K by 2035

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

Showing United States

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What grinding and polishing workers, hand do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • 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.
  • Study blueprints or layouts to determine how to lay out workpieces or saw out templates.
  • Move controls to adjust, start, or stop equipment during grinding and polishing processes.
  • Load and adjust workpieces onto equipment or work tables, using hand tools.
  • Repair and maintain equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools.
  • Select files or other abrasives, according to materials, sizes and shapes of workpieces, amount of stock to be removed, finishes specified, and steps in finishing processes.
  • File grooved, contoured, and irregular surfaces of metal objects, such as metalworking dies and machine parts, to conform to templates, other parts, layouts, or blueprint specifications.
  • Sharpen abrasive grinding tools, using machines and hand tools.
  • Transfer equipment, objects, or parts to specified work areas, using moving devices.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$32,718
25th percentile
$36,888
50th percentile
$42,417
75th percentile
$50,260
90th percentile
$61,726

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $42,417 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−15.5%projected to decline
202511,652 jobs
2035 projected9,843 jobs

1,809 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less
64.1%
Certificate
24%
Some college
11.9%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Lifting Ability
  • Hand Tools
  • Polishing
  • Grinding
  • Grinding Machine
  • Painting
  • Power Tool Operation
  • Machinery
  • Safety Procedures
  • Deburring
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Abrasive Blasting
  • Fabrication
  • Forklift Truck
  • Machining
  • General Mathematics
  • Blueprinting
  • Tape Measure
  • Welding
  • Calipers

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Equipment Selection
Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Metal Finishers489 postings
  2. 02Finishers408 postings
  3. 03Polishers382 postings
  4. 04Powder Coaters230 postings
  5. 05Stone Fabricators229 postings
  6. 06Sandblasters142 postings
  7. 07Grinders130 postings
  8. 08Wood Finishers122 postings
  9. 09Painters103 postings
  10. 10Cabinet Finishers97 postings
  11. 11Finishing Technicians87 postings
  12. 12Fabricators83 postings
  13. 13Metal Stud Framers56 postings
  14. 14Blasters55 postings
  15. 15Shop Helpers52 postings
  16. 16Finishing Operators51 postings
  17. 17Operators46 postings
  18. 18Sanders42 postings
  19. 19Taskers39 postings
  20. 20Buffers38 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Aerotek131 postings
  2. 02Kelly Services96 postings
  3. 03Gqr75 postings
  4. 04Precision Castparts60 postings
  5. 05Express Employment Professionals57 postings
  6. 06Adecco51 postings
  7. 07ManpowerGroup43 postings
  8. 08Spherion Staffing41 postings
  9. 09Nesco Resource37 postings
  10. 10Orchid Orthopedic Solutions21 postings
  11. 11Oshkosh Corporation20 postings
  12. 12Personnel People18 postings
  13. 13Volt18 postings
  14. 14Doherty Staffing Solutions17 postings
  15. 15AtWork Group16 postings
  16. 16Allegion15 postings
  17. 17Eaton Corporation15 postings
  18. 18AAA14 postings
  19. 19Pierce Manufacturing14 postings
  20. 20Valence Surface Technologies13 postings

Keep looking

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