Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners

November 2004 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners: Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.

Earnings for machine operators can vary by size of the company, union or nonunion status, industry, and skill level and experience of the operator. Also, temporary employees, who are being hired in greater numbers, usually get paid less than company-employed workers. The median hourly earnings in 2002 for a variety of machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic were as follows:

Model makers, metal and plastic	$18.27
Patternmakers, metal and plastic	16.09
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders	14.79
Lay-out workers, metal and plastic	14.79
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	14.55
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners	14.14
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	14.04
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.79
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.62
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.56
Pourers and casters, metal	13.40
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.23
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.64
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.56
Foundry mold and coremakers	12.55
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.44
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.22
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	11.81
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	11.17
All other metal workers and plastic workers	13.65

Machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic held about 1.3 million jobs in 2002. Approximately 9 of 10 jobs were found in manufacturing. About 38 percent of all employment was in these manufacturing industries: transportation equipment manufacturing, plastics and rubber products manufacturing, and machinery manufacturing. The following tabulation shows the distribution of employment of machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic by detailed occupation.

Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	283,000
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	151,000
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	104,000
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	99,000
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	98,000
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	75,000
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	53,000
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	45,000
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	44,000
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	44,000
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	31,000
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	29,000
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners	26,000
Foundry mold and coremakers	23,000
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders	18,000
Pourers and casters, metal	13,000
Lay-out workers, metal and plastic	13,000
Model makers, metal and plastic	8,500
Patternmakers, metal and plastic	6,500
All other metal workers and plastic workers	104,000

(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic)

See more recent statistics for employed workers below.

November 2004 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers

National, State, and Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Earnings

Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners
	Percentile annual earnings, $
	10th	25th	50th	75th	90th
National
U.S. employment: 19,930 mean earnings: $31,820	19,190	23,630	30,420	38,710	47,260
State and Metro Area
Alabama (ACS) (EAG) employment: 390 mean earnings: $25,740	17,360	19,760	23,930	31,670	37,110
Anniston, AL employment: 110 mean earnings: $22,950	18,640	19,960	22,110	25,550	27,720
Birmingham, AL employment: 60 mean earnings: $26,180	15,790	17,160	24,560	35,570	41,700
Arizona (ACS) (EAG) employment: 300 mean earnings: $31,020	18,380	23,200	27,950	38,020	45,050
Phoenix - Mesa, AZ employment: 240 mean earnings: $30,620	17,990	22,990	27,720	37,540	44,090
Tucson, AZ employment: 30 mean earnings: $31,930	19,430	22,620	27,570	41,070	52,340
Arkansas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 250 mean earnings: $29,780	19,960	23,860	30,410	34,430	38,930
Fayetteville - Springdale - Rogers, AR employment: 50 mean earnings: $24,260	16,950	19,740	22,880	27,960	34,100
California (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,740 mean earnings: $28,880	17,610	20,460	26,420	35,020	45,590
Los Angeles - Long Beach, CA employment: 520 mean earnings: $27,650	16,660	19,430	25,330	33,350	43,670
Oakland, CA employment: 100 mean earnings: $35,260	22,100	30,810	34,370	41,070	47,560
Orange County, CA employment: 210 mean earnings: $28,310	18,930	21,580	26,310	33,730	41,840
Riverside - San Bernardino, CA Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: n.a. mean earnings: $25,670	16,300	18,420	23,320	29,600	40,770
Sacramento, CA employment: 90 mean earnings: $28,880	17,550	20,920	27,160	35,540	44,070
San Diego, CA employment: 100 mean earnings: $35,170	17,670	21,630	33,660	49,320	54,490
San Jose, CA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $29,160	18,210	20,450	25,670	34,580	50,290
Stockton - Lodi, CA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $25,580	18,960	20,080	21,940	29,550	37,890
Colorado (ACS) (EAG) employment: 110 mean earnings: $31,910	18,790	21,930	27,600	38,180	54,340
Denver, CO employment: n.a. mean earnings: $38,540	21,700	27,540	34,540	50,250	61,080
Connecticut (ACS) (EAG) employment: 250 mean earnings: $38,110	24,300	27,990	38,290	44,230	57,260
Hartford, CT employment: 110 mean earnings: $35,190	23,770	27,650	37,870	42,220	44,820
Waterbury, CT employment: 50 mean earnings: $34,110	23,720	26,130	33,010	41,770	47,980
Florida (ACS) (EAG) employment: 460 mean earnings: $28,400	18,840	23,160	27,300	33,330	40,470
Fort Lauderdale, FL employment: 40 mean earnings: $39,030	23,750	27,790	41,620	47,550	54,850
Jacksonville, FL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $25,110	17,610	19,430	23,380	31,550	34,970
Orlando, FL employment: 40 mean earnings: $25,410	16,660	20,550	26,020	30,810	33,790
Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater, FL employment: 120 mean earnings: $29,480	20,690	24,660	29,400	34,500	39,560
Georgia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 350 mean earnings: $28,610	18,730	22,170	28,400	33,800	40,320
Atlanta, GA employment: 60 mean earnings: $28,130	18,910	21,940	26,740	33,360	40,910
Idaho (ACS) (EAG) employment: 150 mean earnings: $27,880	20,040	23,710	27,750	32,580	35,720
Illinois (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,350 mean earnings: $31,640	20,230	24,820	31,710	38,090	44,030
Chicago, IL employment: 750 mean earnings: $31,760	19,730	24,350	31,990	39,160	44,490
Peoria - Pekin, IL employment: 70 mean earnings: $34,110	23,140	24,770	27,500	46,320	53,630
Rockford, IL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $32,050	23,170	27,660	32,430	36,760	42,380
Indiana (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 1,290 mean earnings: $32,610	22,460	26,060	31,070	36,830	49,160
Elkhart - Goshen, IN Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: n.a. mean earnings: $28,740	16,150	23,660	28,270	35,220	42,150
Fort Wayne, IN employment: 160 mean earnings: $32,590	23,450	27,450	32,270	36,450	43,960
Indianapolis, IN employment: 460 mean earnings: $34,770	23,740	27,650	32,430	41,770	52,750
Muncie, IN Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 40 mean earnings: $43,740	26,000	34,460	48,510	53,520	56,530
Iowa (ACS) (EAG) employment: 210 mean earnings: $32,280	22,040	26,110	31,620	38,500	44,520
Kansas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 150 mean earnings: $33,370	19,710	25,480	32,760	39,120	46,810
Wichita, KS employment: 90 mean earnings: $36,320	20,350	29,740	34,430	42,670	59,270
Kentucky (ACS) (EAG) employment: 220 mean earnings: $26,210	14,530	18,710	25,150	34,560	40,920
Louisiana (ACS) (EAG) employment: 270 mean earnings: $23,090	13,440	16,250	21,150	27,650	36,300
Maine (ACS) (EAG) employment: 150 mean earnings: $28,510	21,050	24,220	28,810	32,970	35,790
Maryland (ACS) (EAG) employment: 100 mean earnings: $34,400	19,290	21,950	33,290	43,730	54,850
Baltimore, MD employment: 60 mean earnings: $35,990	21,040	30,160	34,810	42,560	52,840
Massachusetts (ACS) (EAG) employment: 610 mean earnings: $30,320	21,960	25,120	29,790	34,870	40,620
Boston, MA - NH employment: 240 mean earnings: $28,850	21,260	23,870	28,100	33,530	37,150
Springfield, MA employment: 110 mean earnings: $31,230	24,360	26,440	29,880	35,100	41,610
Michigan (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,430 mean earnings: $38,770	23,930	28,110	37,690	47,720	57,090
Ann Arbor, MI employment: 40 mean earnings: $45,750	24,810	34,260	49,710	55,160	60,880
Benton Harbor, MI employment: 30 mean earnings: $31,340	22,770	26,010	30,980	36,080	42,300
Detroit, MI employment: 590 mean earnings: $43,810	26,250	33,190	42,890	54,720	64,830
Grand Rapids - Muskegon - Holland, MI employment: 250 mean earnings: $34,320	23,590	25,960	34,230	41,940	47,990
Lansing - East Lansing, MI employment: 80 mean earnings: $35,450	20,420	24,330	38,460	44,130	49,730
Minnesota (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 370 mean earnings: $32,940	24,900	27,960	32,420	37,040	43,220
Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN - WI employment: 160 mean earnings: $35,990	26,230	31,290	35,370	40,740	48,630
Mississippi (ACS) (EAG) employment: 250 mean earnings: $29,970	18,640	23,350	29,660	36,750	42,900
Jackson, MS employment: n.a. mean earnings: $23,400	15,980	18,400	21,320	26,310	32,440
Missouri (ACS) (EAG) employment: 490 mean earnings: $31,570	19,350	22,820	31,820	40,330	44,180
Kansas City, MO - KS employment: 120 mean earnings: $27,200	16,390	20,730	26,430	34,610	40,630
St. Louis, MO - IL employment: 120 mean earnings: $32,690	20,900	23,870	30,730	40,700	48,550
Nebraska (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 80 mean earnings: $26,810	19,430	20,980	24,660	31,980	36,340
Omaha, NE - IA employment: 30 mean earnings: $28,920	20,210	22,680	27,970	33,500	37,710
Nevada (ACS) (EAG) employment: 40 mean earnings: $27,160	22,840	23,980	25,890	27,790	36,420
New Hampshire (ACS) (EAG) employment: 210 mean earnings: $28,950	19,540	23,220	29,530	34,270	38,450
Nashua, NH employment: 50 mean earnings: $32,760	22,720	29,840	33,470	36,860	42,360
New Jersey (ACS) (EAG) employment: 140 mean earnings: $31,200	16,750	24,430	31,530	37,440	44,210
Newark, NJ employment: n.a. mean earnings: $27,320	14,910	17,710	27,340	33,590	40,920
New Mexico (ACS) (EAG) employment: 50 mean earnings: $26,650	15,360	17,480	23,720	27,760	50,980
Albuquerque, NM employment: 40 mean earnings: $28,910	16,270	19,300	24,480	29,880	52,610
New York (ACS) (EAG) employment: 620 mean earnings: $35,190	19,600	24,630	34,070	46,050	54,190
Buffalo - Niagara Falls, NY Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 50 mean earnings: $37,800	24,800	30,690	36,250	46,640	54,190
Nassau - Suffolk, NY employment: 60 mean earnings: $25,860	21,080	23,450	25,410	27,400	31,650
New York, NY employment: 150 mean earnings: $28,580	18,490	20,060	23,720	34,200	46,920
Rochester, NY employment: 40 mean earnings: $41,640	27,240	38,360	42,710	47,450	53,870
Utica - Rome, NY employment: 30 mean earnings: $34,690	15,900	27,000	38,040	43,020	48,110
North Carolina (ACS) (EAG) employment: 560 mean earnings: $28,560	18,460	21,060	26,400	34,800	42,930
Charlotte - Gastonia - Rock Hill, NC - SC employment: 130 mean earnings: $27,800	16,870	19,660	23,370	37,340	43,700
Greensboro - - Winston - Salem - - High Point, NC employment: 100 mean earnings: $31,190	19,050	22,700	31,750	39,770	43,590
Hickory - Morganton - Lenoir, NC Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 30 mean earnings: $28,690	21,570	24,190	27,430	33,360	38,350
Raleigh - Durham - Chapel Hill, NC employment: 40 mean earnings: $27,850	19,120	22,200	25,890	29,010	47,570
North Dakota (ACS) (EAG) employment: 50 mean earnings: $28,750	21,330	23,660	26,140	30,070	37,590
Ohio (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 1,650 mean earnings: $35,660	20,020	26,140	34,110	46,810	54,630
Akron, OH employment: 180 mean earnings: $32,820	21,560	27,180	32,630	37,000	43,540
Canton - Massillon, OH employment: n.a. mean earnings: $33,540	20,490	23,760	28,810	40,950	56,310
Cincinnati, OH - KY - IN employment: 80 mean earnings: $29,800	21,750	24,740	28,300	35,010	41,110
Cleveland - Lorain - Elyria, OH employment: 180 mean earnings: $36,390	22,410	30,200	35,350	43,970	52,580
Columbus, OH employment: 140 mean earnings: $27,610	19,080	21,480	26,550	32,640	40,330
Dayton - Springfield, OH employment: n.a. mean earnings: $43,630	29,310	32,990	48,000	53,770	57,240
Hamilton - Middletown, OH employment: 60 mean earnings: $27,970	19,670	23,090	26,280	32,060	39,170
Lima, OH employment: 60 mean earnings: $37,850	18,360	31,710	39,730	45,670	52,310
Mansfield, OH employment: 50 mean earnings: $27,510	13,890	21,430	27,490	34,820	40,210
Toledo, OH employment: 90 mean earnings: $31,140	13,560	22,680	30,510	37,210	47,200
Youngstown - Warren, OH employment: 100 mean earnings: $23,050	15,240	17,600	20,870	27,780	35,790
Oklahoma (ACS) (EAG) employment: 250 mean earnings: $27,980	16,760	20,730	25,820	36,000	42,670
Oklahoma City, OK employment: 60 mean earnings: $22,670	12,970	15,240	18,430	26,250	43,120
Tulsa, OK employment: 130 mean earnings: $32,640	22,560	25,810	32,580	39,510	43,660
Oregon (ACS) (EAG) employment: 990 mean earnings: $32,690	20,730	25,080	31,230	40,480	45,000
Eugene - Springfield, OR Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 60 mean earnings: $32,570	18,840	21,800	36,100	40,930	43,780
Portland - Vancouver, OR - WA employment: 590 mean earnings: $32,620	19,850	24,480	28,920	41,390	47,070
Pennsylvania (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,020 mean earnings: $32,520	20,360	25,340	32,220	39,180	44,470
Erie, PA employment: 40 mean earnings: $25,650	17,320	20,200	23,970	28,600	35,360
Harrisburg - Lebanon - Carlisle, PA employment: 50 mean earnings: $35,220	23,210	27,360	34,220	42,100	50,830
Lancaster, PA employment: 40 mean earnings: $30,030	20,470	24,380	30,560	34,870	40,440
Philadelphia, PA - NJ employment: 280 mean earnings: $35,610	21,350	28,980	34,990	42,140	51,580
Pittsburgh, PA employment: 210 mean earnings: $31,290	20,830	24,940	30,890	36,200	43,700
Williamsport, PA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $23,170	18,930	20,580	23,320	25,950	27,530
South Carolina (ACS) (EAG) employment: 240 mean earnings: $33,780	22,390	24,990	30,130	39,510	55,510
Columbia, SC employment: n.a. mean earnings: $28,650	23,370	24,580	26,600	30,380	39,520
Greenville - Spartanburg - Anderson, SC employment: 60 mean earnings: $35,550	20,780	29,330	33,750	46,690	53,780
South Dakota (ACS) (EAG) employment: 90 mean earnings: $22,770	15,480	17,640	23,060	26,520	29,510
Tennessee (ACS) (EAG) employment: 460 mean earnings: $31,580	18,700	21,900	31,930	40,550	44,850
Johnson City - Kingsport - Bristol, TN - VA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $21,840	15,400	17,360	20,030	23,640	33,290
Knoxville, TN employment: n.a. mean earnings: $38,360	29,920	34,700	39,550	43,660	46,830
Memphis, TN - AR - MS employment: 40 mean earnings: $30,240	17,750	21,240	28,480	39,790	44,630
Nashville, TN employment: 130 mean earnings: $38,520	23,210	35,840	39,970	44,050	50,160
Texas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 590 mean earnings: $27,620	16,810	19,850	25,030	34,810	42,850
Dallas, TX employment: 50 mean earnings: $25,790	18,780	20,640	23,600	28,360	39,040
Fort Worth - Arlington, TX employment: 50 mean earnings: $24,870	15,360	16,490	18,940	35,580	43,110
Houston, TX employment: 210 mean earnings: $29,070	16,920	19,630	26,560	38,160	45,410
Utah (ACS) (EAG) employment: 170 mean earnings: $26,460	18,480	21,290	25,800	31,190	35,950
Salt Lake City - Ogden, UT employment: 70 mean earnings: $26,290	17,570	19,910	24,400	32,680	36,370
Vermont (ACS) (EAG) employment: 40 mean earnings: $36,230	23,000	28,990	33,350	41,670	60,820
Virginia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 430 mean earnings: $24,790	17,940	19,590	21,840	27,220	35,660
Lynchburg, VA employment: 30 mean earnings: $29,260	20,220	22,760	25,440	31,860	48,710
Norfolk - Virginia Beach - Newport News, VA - NC employment: n.a. mean earnings: $21,080	18,750	19,510	20,760	22,020	22,770
Washington (ACS) (EAG) employment: 460 mean earnings: $40,090	21,270	31,100	38,940	47,970	62,970
Spokane, WA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $35,970	18,910	29,590	34,980	42,520	53,380
Tacoma, WA employment: 50 mean earnings: $34,960	17,820	27,020	37,700	43,000	47,330
West Virginia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 70 mean earnings: $27,450	17,980	21,000	27,320	33,180	38,870
Wisconsin (ACS) (EAG) employment: 790 mean earnings: $33,490	23,310	27,250	32,540	38,600	46,000
Appleton - Oshkosh - Neenah, WI employment: 40 mean earnings: $33,710	21,220	25,090	30,380	36,050	55,360
Janesville - Beloit, WI employment: 40 mean earnings: $32,060	23,840	27,870	31,810	35,280	42,640
Milwaukee - Waukesha, WI employment: 260 mean earnings: $35,020	25,500	30,300	34,640	40,390	44,870
Sheboygan, WI employment: 50 mean earnings: $28,990	23,760	25,430	28,210	32,620	35,670
Wausau, WI employment: 60 mean earnings: $28,420	20,450	24,200	29,290	33,010	35,210

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates

The highlighted text indicates the maximum values in each column among the states and metropolitan areas.

The (ACS) links lead to data from the American Community Survey from the Census Bureau.

The (EAG) links lead to U.S. Economy at a Glance data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.