Jobs / Physical work / 51-4194.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.

US jobs
5,600
Median wage
$50,060 a year
Job family
Physical work

Can agents do the work of tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners?

We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Physical work:

  • Task levelUnexploredNo benchmark in our collection covers this work yet.
  • Project levelUnexploredNo benchmark in our collection covers this work yet.

Unexplored territory

No benchmark in this atlas covers this work yet.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Monitor machine operations to determine whether adjustments are necessary, stopping machines when problems occur.
  • Select and mount grinding wheels on machines, according to specifications, using hand tools and applying knowledge of abrasives and grinding procedures.
  • Set up and operate grinding or polishing machines to grind metal workpieces, such as dies, parts, and tools.
  • Inspect, feel, and measure workpieces to ensure that surfaces and dimensions meet specifications.
  • Perform basic maintenance, such as cleaning and lubricating machine parts.
  • Remove finished workpieces from machines and place them in boxes or on racks, setting aside pieces that are defective.
  • Study blueprints or layouts of metal workpieces to determine grinding procedures, and to plan machine setups and operational sequences.
  • Dress grinding wheels, according to specifications.
  • Remove and replace worn or broken machine parts, using hand tools.
  • Fit parts together in pre-assembly to ensure that dimensions are accurate.
  • File or finish surfaces of workpieces, using prescribed hand tools.
  • Inspect dies to detect defects, assess wear, and verify specifications, using micrometers, steel gauge pins, and loupes.
Other job titles for this occupation (39)

Crankshaft Grinder · Cutter Grind Tool Technician (Cutter Grind Tool Tech) · Cutter Grinder · Grinder · Grinder Operator · OD Grinder Operator (Outer Diameter Grinder Operator) · Polisher · Saw Filer · Tool and Cutter Grinder · Tool Grinder · Card Grinder · Cutting Tool Sharpener · Cylinder Grinder · Deburrer · Die Grinder · Die Polisher · Die Sharpener · Die Trimmer · External Tool Grinder Operator · Filer · Finish Filer · Finisher · Internal Grinder Setup Operator · Nonferrous Metal Die Polisher · Outer Diameter Grinder (OD Grinder) · Precision Grinder · Sapphire Stylus Grinder · Saw Fitter · Saw Straightener · Sharpener · Surface Tool Grinder Operator · Thread Grinder · Tool Filer · Tool Grinder Operator · Tool Grinding Machine Operator · Tool Grinding Technician (Tool Grinding Tech) · Tool Sharpener · Tool Straightener · Universal Grinder Setup Operator