Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners work in a specialized niche focused on precision and careful craftsmanship. With national employment of about 6,000 workers, this is a relatively small occupation, which can appeal to people who prefer a more focused field. The typical entry path requires a high school diploma or equivalent, making it accessible to individuals who want to move into skilled work without a longer college program. Success in this career draws on fine motor ability, mechanical skills, detail orientation, and physical strength and stamina, along with analytical, math, and problem-solving capabilities. While projected national employment growth is -7.8%, there are still opportunities in certain states and metro areas where the CareerGPS opportunity scores are higher. People interested in related paths can also consider similar occupations such as machinists, various metal and plastic workers, or machine setters and operators. Overall, this career suits individuals who enjoy hands-on, precise work and developing specialized technical skills.
Nationally, tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners earn a median annual salary of $48,970. Pay can vary across locations, and the CareerGPS data highlights several states and metros with different earning levels. Among states with higher opportunity scores, Washington shows a median salary of $75,190, while California offers $51,300 and Massachusetts $56,600. New York and Virginia have median salaries of $47,070 and $38,370 respectively. At the metro level, there is also wide variation. The Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metro stands out with a median salary of $102,390, while San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont is $53,340 and New York–Newark–Jersey City is $48,580. Other highlighted metros, such as Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim and Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, show median salaries of $46,580 and $44,050. These differences suggest that location is a key factor in earning potential within this occupation.
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners have national employment of about 6,000 workers, with a projected employment growth rate of -7.8%. This negative growth indicates that overall employment in the field is expected to decline over the projection period. Annual openings are listed as 0, signaling limited new positions at the national level according to the available data. Across the highlighted states and metro areas, the projected growth rate is consistently -7.8%, so the same downward trend appears in both state and local projections. However, CareerGPS opportunity scores show that some locations still rank relatively higher for opportunity compared with others, despite the negative growth rate. People exploring this career should be aware that the labor market outlook is contracting overall and may consider how that aligns with their long-term plans. Some may also want to keep similar occupations in mind, such as machinists or other metal and plastic workers, as additional career options.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners, based on CareerGPS opportunity scores and pay levels. Among states, California has the highest opportunity score at 67.38, with a median salary of $51,300 and employment of 620. Massachusetts and New York also show relatively strong scores around the mid‑60s, though with smaller employment levels of 40 and 170 respectively and median salaries of $56,600 and $47,070. Washington and Virginia appear with lower opportunity scores in the 50s; Washington combines a relatively high median salary of $75,190 with employment of 410, while Virginia shows lower pay and smaller employment. At the metro level, New York–Newark–Jersey City stands out with the highest opportunity score of 77.27, while San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont and Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim also have solid scores and notable employment concentrations. Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue offers the highest listed metro median salary at $102,390, illustrating how some metros combine strong earnings with measurable opportunity.
The typical education requirement for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners is a high school diploma or equivalent, making this an accessible skilled trade for those not pursuing a four‑year degree. Beyond formal education, the role relies heavily on a blend of hands-on and cognitive skills. Fine motor ability and physical strength and stamina support the physical and precision aspects of the work. Mechanical aptitude, mathematics, and science knowledge contribute to understanding how tools function and how to approach precise adjustments. Being detail oriented and capable of critical and analytical thinking helps maintain accuracy and quality. Project management and computers and information technology skills indicate that organizing tasks and working with digital tools or systems can also be part of the skill profile. Together, these skills suggest that people who enjoy precise, mechanically focused work and problem solving can build a strong foundation for this occupation with a high school education plus targeted skill development.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
