Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for tool grinders, filers, and sharpenerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Washington$76,330
- Oregon$62,730
- Idaho$61,330
- Ohio$60,000
- Iowa$56,900
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Colorado$35,910
- Florida$39,420
- Tennessee$40,370
- Pennsylvania$42,920
- Virginia$44,180
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $76,330 | $75,190 | $37 | +43.4% | 410 |
| 2 | Oregon | $62,730 | $60,760 | $30 | +17.8% | 430 |
| 3 | Idaho | $61,330 | $59,250 | $29 | +15.2% | 100 |
| 4 | Ohio | $60,000 | $56,690 | $29 | +12.7% | 190 |
| 5 | Iowa | $56,900 | $51,760 | $27 | +6.9% | 60 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $55,290 | $51,990 | $27 | +3.9% | 90 |
| 7 | Missouri | $54,380 | $52,540 | $26 | +2.1% | 150 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $54,060 | $56,600 | $26 | +1.5% | 40 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $53,800 | $39,710 | $26 | +1.1% | 130 |
| 10 | Mississippi | $53,750 | $55,510 | $26 | +1% | 50 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $53,670 | $56,380 | $26 | +0.8% | 40 |
| 12 | Kansas | $53,620 | $54,100 | $26 | +0.7% | — |
| 13 | California | $53,440 | $51,300 | $26 | +0.4% | 620 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $53,290 | $49,470 | $26 | +0.1% | — |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $52,560 | $51,240 | $25 | -1.3% | 110 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $52,120 | $44,170 | $25 | -2.1% | 50 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $52,090 | $50,220 | $25 | -2.2% | 80 |
| 18 | Indiana | $52,080 | $48,700 | $25 | -2.2% | 110 |
| 19 | Texas | $51,740 | $46,000 | $25 | -2.8% | 530 |
| 20 | Georgia | $51,400 | $46,800 | $25 | -3.5% | 240 |
| 21 | Maine | $50,150 | $46,750 | $24 | -5.8% | 60 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $49,400 | $46,380 | $24 | -7.2% | 40 |
| 23 | Montana | $49,340 | $49,560 | $24 | -7.3% | — |
| 24 | Michigan | $48,830 | $43,470 | $23 | -8.3% | 260 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $48,780 | $47,360 | $23 | -8.4% | 40 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $48,270 | $45,790 | $23 | -9.3% | 160 |
| 27 | New York | $47,650 | $47,070 | $23 | -10.5% | 170 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $46,350 | $45,600 | $22 | -12.9% | 60 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $45,320 | $38,410 | $22 | -14.9% | 160 |
| 30 | Alabama | $44,240 | $41,720 | $21 | -16.9% | 220 |
| 31 | Virginia | $44,180 | $38,370 | $21 | -17% | 80 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $42,920 | $39,550 | $21 | -19.4% | 170 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $40,370 | $36,920 | $19 | -24.2% | 200 |
| 34 | Florida | $39,420 | $36,880 | $19 | -26% | 120 |
| 35 | Colorado | $35,910 | $33,970 | $17 | -32.6% | — |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 35 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $102,390 | $91,150 | 170 |
| 2 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $75,630 | $67,790 | 50 |
| 3 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $75,190 | $69,030 | 120 |
| 4 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $64,840 | $64,510 | 70 |
| 5 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $64,350 | $56,650 | 30 |
| 6 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $64,320 | $66,950 | 40 |
| 7 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $64,230 | $66,110 | 50 |
| 8 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $63,890 | $57,530 | 40 |
| 9 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,890 | $55,160 | 30 |
| 10 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $62,790 | $60,470 | 40 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing tool grinders, filers, and sharpenerss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $67,550 | $65,390 | 100 |
| 2 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $61,550 | $68,420 | 630 |
| 3 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $61,550 | $71,330 | 490 |
| 4 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | $61,340 | $60,190 | 1,330 |
| 5 | Wood Product Manufacturing | $60,260 | $59,600 | 1,600 |
| 6 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | $58,640 | $53,180 | — |
| 7 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | $56,210 | $57,450 | 220 |
| 8 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | $52,350 | $53,340 | 30 |
| 9 | Sectors 31, 32, and 33 - Manufacturing | $52,000 | $55,240 | 4,230 |
| 10 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $51,790 | $51,780 | 390 |
| 11 | Machine Shops | $51,110 | $55,170 | 70 |
| 12 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | $51,030 | $52,720 | 50 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners make in the U.S.?
The median tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners salary in the United States is $50,060 per year (mean $53,240), and about 80% earn between $35,350 and $77,170.
How much do tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners make per hour?
Roughly $26 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $53,240 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners the most?
Washington has the highest average pay for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners at $76,330 per year (median $75,190).
What is the job outlook for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners?
Employment is projected to change -7.8% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 500 openings per year.