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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $41,690 in the US and is projected to decline by 21% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a No formal educational credential, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.49 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Quality Control Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Repairing.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £31,500 a year for Metal working machine operatives (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £27,304 to £39,688 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 8120). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Craft and related trades workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Grinding and polishing workers, hand, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 7. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Engineering and Technology
- Administration and Management
What you'd actually do
- 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.
- Study blueprints or layouts to determine how to lay out workpieces or saw out templates.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Grinding and polishing workers, hand do?
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.
How much does Grinding and polishing workers, hand earn?
The median annual salary for Grinding and polishing workers, hand in the US is $41,690.
What is the job outlook for Grinding and polishing workers, hand?
The role is projected to decline by 21% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 11,800 workers.
How do I become grinding and polishing workers, hand?
The typical entry education is a No formal educational credential. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Grinding and polishing workers, hand need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Quality Control Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Troubleshooting. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Grinding and polishing workers, hand?
Our AI-durability model gives Grinding and polishing workers, hand a score of 0.49 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Grinding and polishing workers, hand has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.