The median pay for Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand is $42,660 a year ($20.51/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 19.2% through 2035, with about 700 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 51-9022
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand in four numbers
- Median pay
- $42,660a year, or $20.51/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $33KTop 10% $61K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -19.2%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−19.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −19.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 70010,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202510.8K
- Projected 20358.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 10.8K Projected 2035 8.7K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school26.7%
- High school37.3%
- Certificate24%
- Some college11.9%
Highest education held by grinding and polishing workers, hand Segment Value Less than high school 26.7% High school 37.3% Certificate 24% Some college 11.9%
Also advertised as: Buffer, Casting Finisher, Chipper, Finisher, Grinder, Jewelry Polisher.
Pay
How much do Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand make?
Every grinding and polishing worker, hand in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$42,660
Middle half earn $37,450 to $49,980
- 10th
- $33,480
- 25th
- $37,450
- 75th
- $49,980
- 90th
- $60,810
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $33,480 |
| 25th | $37,450 |
| Median | $42,660 |
| 75th | $49,980 |
| 90th | $60,810 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $42,660
- Median hourly wage
- $20.51/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $45,020
- People employed
- 10,510
Versus all US occupations
At $42,660, Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand earn 16% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $8,320 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 11% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $60,810 or more while the bottom 10% earn $33,480, a gap of 1.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 9% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Vermont pays the most at $56,850, and still leads at $58,035 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Vermont | $56,850 | $58,035 | 50 |
| 2Minnesota | $51,930 | $52,656 | 120 |
| 3Rhode Island | $51,630 | $50,479 | 130 |
| 4Montana | $50,460 | $53,315 | N/A |
| 5Virginia | $48,830 | $48,297 | 330 |
| 6Connecticut | $48,670 | $46,974 | 230 |
| 7Kansas | $48,410 | $53,748 | 100 |
| 8Maryland | $48,390 | $46,104 | N/A |
| 9New Hampshire | $47,920 | $46,004 | 40 |
| 10New Jersey | $47,840 | $43,969 | 300 |
Job outlook
Is Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -19.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | −19.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand to change -19.2% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 2,100 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 700 openings are projected each year, 6.5% of the 10,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as grinding and polishing workers, hand.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)37.3%
- Less than a High School Diploma26.7%
- Post-Secondary Certificate24%
- Some College Courses11.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 37.3% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 26.7% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 24% |
| Some College Courses | 11.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand do?
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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Load and adjust workpieces onto equipment or work tables, using hand tools.
- Transfer equipment, objects, or parts to specified work areas, using moving devices.
- Grind, sand, clean, or polish objects or parts to correct defects or to prepare surfaces for further finishing, using hand tools and power 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.
- Verify quality of finished workpieces by inspecting them, comparing them to templates, measuring their dimensions, or testing them in working machinery.
- Move controls to adjust, start, or stop equipment during grinding and polishing processes.
- Trim, scrape, or deburr objects or parts, using chisels, scrapers, and other hand tools and equipment.
- Measure and mark equipment, objects, or parts to ensure grinding and polishing standards are met.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening2.9
- Speaking2.9
- Critical Thinking2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Monitoring2.8
- Writing2.4
- Active Learning2.4
- Mathematics2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 2.9 |
| Speaking | 2.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Writing | 2.4 |
| Active Learning | 2.4 |
| Mathematics | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Quality Control Analysis3.4
- Operations Monitoring3.3
- Operation and Control3.1
- Equipment Maintenance3.1
- Repairing3.0
- Troubleshooting2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.8
- Judgment and Decision Making2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.4 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.1 |
| Repairing | 3.0 |
| Troubleshooting | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.3
- Artistic2.0
- Investigative1.5
- Social1.1
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand
O*NET related occupations
- Production
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic
$46,550median a year
Most earn $36K to $63K
−10.8%High school - Production
- Production
Woodworking Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Except Sawing
$43,380median a year
Most earn $32K to $57K
−2.5%High school - Production
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
$46,570median a year
Most earn $36K to $61K
−0.9%High school - Production
Molder, Shaper, and Caster, Except Metal and Plastic
$46,170median a year
Most earn $36K to $62K
+5.8%High school - Production
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic
$46,330median a year
Most earn $36K to $66K
−10.5%High school
More production careers
Median annual pay, with grinding and polishing workers, hand highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand$42,660
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand | $42,660 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand appears on
Questions
Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand: frequently asked questions
How much do Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand make?
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand earn a median of $42,660 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 16% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $20.51/hr. The middle half earn between $37,450 and $49,980. The top 10% earn $60,810 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 37.3% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 19.2% over 2025–2035, a loss of 2,100 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand do?
Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. A core O*NET task: load and adjust workpieces onto equipment or work tables, using hand tools. Employers most often ask for Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand the most?
The highest state medians for Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand are Vermont ($56,850), Minnesota ($51,930), Rhode Island ($51,630) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand?
O*NET scores Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.