# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-and-polishing-workers-hand
- SOC code: 51-9022.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $42,660 (10th percentile $33,480, 90th percentile $60,810)
- Projected growth: Decline, -19.2%
- Openings a year: 700
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCA)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 9 |
| Artistic (A) | 17 |
| Social (S) | 1 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 38 |

## What you'd do

- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 98/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 97/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 97/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 95/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 95/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 91/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 89/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 87/100)
- Getting Information (importance 82/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 81/100)

## Skills

Quality Control Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Operation and Control, Repairing, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Speaking, Troubleshooting, Complex Problem Solving

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Mechanical, English Language, Mathematics, Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service, Engineering and Technology, Administration and Management, Public Safety and Security, Computers and Electronics

## Also called

Aircraft Skin Burnisher, Balance Wheel Arm Burnisher, Balance Wheel Hand Filer, Barrel Finisher, Beveler, Bit Shaver, Buffer, Burrer, Cabinet Finisher, Casting Finisher

## Related careers

- [Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-lapping-polishing-and-buffing-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal): $46,550 median pay
- [Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tool-grinders-filers-and-sharpeners): $50,060 median pay
- [Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/woodworking-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-except-sawing): $43,380 median pay
- [Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cutting-and-slicing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $46,570 median pay
- [Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/molders-shapers-and-casters-except-metal-and-plastic): $46,170 median pay
- [Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cutting-punching-and-press-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $46,330 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.