U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsSet up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69,510 | 1.9 % | $15.90 | $33,070 | 0.6 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $9.95 | $12.07 | $15.20 | $18.74 | $22.75 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $20,700 | $25,100 | $31,620 | $38,980 | $47,320 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 6,860 | 1.92 | $15.02 | $31,230 |
| Foundries | 6,780 | 5.28 | $14.55 | $30,270 |
| Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 6,580 | 2.48 | $16.77 | $34,880 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 5,500 | 3.14 | $17.06 | $35,480 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 4,910 | 3.65 | $14.95 | $31,100 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundries | 6,780 | 5.28 | $14.55 | $30,270 |
| Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing | 1,950 | 4.96 | $16.63 | $34,580 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 4,910 | 3.65 | $14.95 | $31,100 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 5,500 | 3.14 | $17.06 | $35,480 |
| Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 6,580 | 2.48 | $16.77 | $34,880 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 3,340 | 0.68 | $19.81 | $41,200 |
| Ship and Boat Building | 470 | 0.38 | $18.71 | $38,920 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 1,610 | 1.58 | $18.41 | $38,300 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 650 | 0.69 | $17.64 | $36,680 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 520 | 0.83 | $17.38 | $36,150 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 8,120 | 0.57 | 1.06 | $14.21 | $29,550 |
| Ohio | 4,950 | 0.98 | 1.83 | $16.61 | $34,550 |
| Pennsylvania | 4,650 | 0.83 | 1.56 | $17.03 | $35,420 |
| Illinois | 4,290 | 0.76 | 1.42 | $16.61 | $34,560 |
| Texas | 4,180 | 0.40 | 0.74 | $14.14 | $29,420 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 1,010 | 1.65 | 3.09 | $16.92 | $35,190 |
| Indiana | 3,880 | 1.38 | 2.58 | $16.54 | $34,390 |
| Wisconsin | 3,080 | 1.15 | 2.16 | $16.31 | $33,930 |
| Iowa | 1,660 | 1.13 | 2.12 | $14.95 | $31,100 |
| South Carolina | 2,010 | 1.12 | 2.10 | $18.09 | $37,630 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 270 | 0.47 | 0.89 | $20.85 | $43,370 |
| Massachusetts | 1,780 | 0.56 | 1.04 | $18.23 | $37,910 |
| South Carolina | 2,010 | 1.12 | 2.10 | $18.09 | $37,630 |
| Connecticut | 1,610 | 0.99 | 1.86 | $18.09 | $37,620 |
| Mississippi | 510 | 0.47 | 0.88 | $17.94 | $37,320 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 3,560 | 0.92 | 1.72 | $14.35 | $29,840 |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division | 2,200 | 0.60 | 1.13 | $16.76 | $34,860 |
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,500 | 1.06 | 1.99 | $12.85 | $26,720 |
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 1,430 | 0.54 | 1.01 | $13.35 | $27,770 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,310 | 0.75 | 1.40 | $17.67 | $36,760 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,300 | 1.15 | 2.16 | $17.38 | $36,140 |
| Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division | 1,100 | 1.03 | 1.93 | $18.35 | $38,170 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,030 | 1.03 | 1.93 | $17.12 | $35,610 |
| Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH | 1,000 | 1.00 | 1.88 | $16.87 | $35,100 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | 900 | 1.12 | 2.10 | $17.84 | $37,110 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | 160 | 3.85 | 7.21 | $16.45 | $34,210 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | 220 | 3.83 | 7.19 | $16.65 | $34,620 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | 160 | 3.57 | 6.70 | $15.60 | $32,450 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 300 | 3.40 | 6.38 | $17.01 | $35,380 |
| Carson City, NV | 80 | 3.11 | 5.83 | $14.37 | $29,880 |
| Rockford, IL | 430 | 3.07 | 5.75 | $15.51 | $32,250 |
| Elmira, NY | 100 | 2.62 | 4.92 | $17.42 | $36,230 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 260 | 2.37 | 4.45 | $14.93 | $31,050 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 410 | 2.35 | 4.40 | $20.22 | $42,050 |
| Columbus, IN | 110 | 2.34 | 4.39 | $15.61 | $32,460 |