Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for grinding and polishing workers, hands across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $45,020 ≈ $22/hr
National median salary $42,660
Total employment 10,510 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth -21.2%
Decline
Annual openings 800 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 11,800 → 9,300 (-2,500)
Typical entry education No formal educational credential
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Vermont$57,510
- New York$55,460
- Connecticut$52,260
- Minnesota$51,600
- Missouri$51,350
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- New Mexico$32,200
- Louisiana$33,930
- Tennessee$34,680
- Alabama$35,530
- Illinois$36,910
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $57,510 | $56,850 | $28 | +27.7% | 50 |
| 2 | New York | $55,460 | $47,240 | $27 | +23.2% | 440 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $52,260 | $48,670 | $25 | +16.1% | 230 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $51,600 | $51,930 | $25 | +14.6% | 120 |
| 5 | Missouri | $51,350 | $47,360 | $25 | +14.1% | 180 |
| 6 | Virginia | $51,130 | $48,830 | $25 | +13.6% | 330 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $50,550 | $51,630 | $24 | +12.3% | 130 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $49,820 | $47,920 | $24 | +10.7% | 40 |
| 9 | Maryland | $49,620 | $48,390 | $24 | +10.2% | — |
| 10 | Kansas | $49,290 | $48,410 | $24 | +9.5% | 100 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $49,250 | $47,840 | $24 | +9.4% | 300 |
| 12 | Montana | $48,910 | $50,460 | $24 | +8.6% | — |
| 13 | Nevada | $48,680 | $45,310 | $23 | +8.1% | 90 |
| 14 | Washington | $48,100 | $47,290 | $23 | +6.8% | 90 |
| 15 | Oregon | $47,540 | $42,380 | $23 | +5.6% | 160 |
| 16 | Iowa | $47,430 | $47,280 | $23 | +5.4% | — |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $47,090 | $47,790 | $23 | +4.6% | 290 |
| 18 | California | $46,650 | $44,450 | $22 | +3.6% | 1,850 |
| 19 | Michigan | $46,500 | $44,430 | $22 | +3.3% | 650 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $45,820 | $45,710 | $22 | +1.8% | 260 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $45,450 | $42,700 | $22 | +1% | 170 |
| 22 | Georgia | $44,670 | $40,660 | $21 | -0.8% | 220 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $44,180 | $39,870 | $21 | -1.9% | — |
| 24 | Arizona | $43,920 | $38,280 | $21 | -2.4% | 560 |
| 25 | Colorado | $43,890 | $40,600 | $21 | -2.5% | 70 |
| 26 | Ohio | $43,410 | $40,310 | $21 | -3.6% | 490 |
| 27 | Delaware | $42,890 | $47,780 | $21 | -4.7% | 40 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $42,500 | $40,510 | $20 | -5.6% | 140 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $42,420 | $38,960 | $20 | -5.8% | 140 |
| 30 | Indiana | $41,400 | $38,810 | $20 | -8% | 620 |
| 31 | Florida | $41,220 | $39,480 | $20 | -8.4% | 510 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $40,440 | $37,600 | $19 | -10.2% | 330 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $40,020 | $38,340 | $19 | -11.1% | 160 |
| 34 | Texas | $38,620 | $38,170 | $19 | -14.2% | 840 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $38,310 | $40,280 | $18 | -14.9% | 30 |
| 36 | Illinois | $36,910 | $36,590 | $18 | -18% | 60 |
| 37 | Alabama | $35,530 | $35,620 | $17 | -21.1% | 150 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $34,680 | $33,830 | $17 | -23% | 80 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $33,930 | $33,160 | $16 | -24.6% | 90 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $32,200 | $28,640 | $15 | -28.5% | 120 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 64 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $65,540 | $57,910 | 130 |
| 2 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $58,950 | $55,720 | 70 |
| 3 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $56,610 | $57,270 | 40 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $56,160 | $50,300 | 60 |
| 5 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $53,620 | $55,460 | 60 |
| 6 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $52,890 | $51,690 | 60 |
| 7 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $51,770 | $52,490 | 90 |
| 8 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $51,680 | $51,620 | 100 |
| 9 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $51,630 | $50,210 | 140 |
| 10 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $51,310 | $51,680 | 60 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing grinding and polishing workers, hands (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive Body, Paint, Interior, and Glass Repair | $59,460 | $53,320 | 310 |
| 2 | Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $59,450 | $53,290 | 320 |
| 3 | Sectors 48 and 49 - Transportation and Warehousing | $59,070 | $57,970 | — |
| 4 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $58,300 | $53,140 | 50 |
| 5 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $49,430 | $50,050 | 90 |
| 6 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $49,290 | $50,400 | 540 |
| 7 | Repair and Maintenance | $49,040 | $51,260 | 510 |
| 8 | Sector 81 - Other Services (except Public Administration) | $49,040 | $51,260 | 510 |
| 9 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | $48,930 | $50,830 | 70 |
| 10 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $48,110 | $50,730 | 170 |
| 11 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | $47,950 | $46,820 | 40 |
| 12 | Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | $47,850 | $45,160 | 50 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do grinding and polishing workers, hand make in the U.S.?
The median grinding and polishing workers, hand salary in the United States is $42,660 per year (mean $45,020), and about 80% earn between $33,480 and $60,810.
How much do grinding and polishing workers, hand make per hour?
Roughly $22 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $45,020 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays grinding and polishing workers, hand the most?
Vermont has the highest average pay for grinding and polishing workers, hand at $57,510 per year (median $56,850).
What is the job outlook for grinding and polishing workers, hand?
Employment is projected to change -21.2% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 800 openings per year.