Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for grinding and polishing workers, hand in the U.S. is $42,660 ($20.51 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $42,660
- Mean annual wage
- $45,020
- Median hourly wage
- $20.51
- Employment
- 10,510
10,510 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,480 | $16.09 |
| 25th percentile | $37,450 | $18.00 |
| Median (50th) | $42,660 | $20.51 |
| 75th percentile | $49,980 | $24.03 |
| 90th percentile | $60,810 | $29.23 |
Highest-paying states for grinding and polishing workers, hand
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $56,850 | 50 |
| Minnesota | $51,930 | 120 |
| Rhode Island | $51,630 | 130 |
| Montana | $50,460 | — |
| Virginia | $48,830 | 330 |
| Connecticut | $48,670 | 230 |
| Kansas | $48,410 | 100 |
| Maryland | $48,390 | — |
| New Hampshire | $47,920 | 40 |
| New Jersey | $47,840 | 300 |
Lowest-paying states
- New Mexico: $28,640 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $33,160 median annual wage
- Tennessee: $33,830 median annual wage
- Alabama: $35,620 median annual wage
- Illinois: $36,590 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Transfer equipment, objects, or parts to specified work areas, using moving devices.
- Remove completed workpieces from equipment or work tables, using hand tools, and place workpieces in containers.
- Apply solutions and chemicals to equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: No formal educational credential
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 16.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 47.2% |
| Some college, no degree | 19.9% |
| Associate's degree | 7.9% |
| Bachelor's degree | 7.7% |
| Master's degree | 0.8% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.2% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.