Skilled Trades
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. Includes chippers, buffers, and finishers.
Median salary
$41,690
Typical range
$32k – $57k
Job outlook
See national outlook
AI exposure
Plan a path to Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Entry / Junior
$32,120
~2 yrs to advance
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Established
$41,690
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Senior
$49,470
Key skills
A typical day
- •Verify quality of finished workpieces by inspecting them, comparing them to templates, measuring their dimensions, or testing them in working machinery.
- •Grind, sand, clean, or polish objects or parts to correct defects or to prepare surfaces for further finishing, using hand tools and power tools.
- •Measure and mark equipment, objects, or parts to ensure grinding and polishing standards are met.
- •Trim, scrape, or deburr objects or parts, using chisels, scrapers, and other hand tools and equipment.
- •Mark defects, such as knotholes, cracks, and splits, for repair.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Skilled Trades
Explore all- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.