Jobs / Physical work / 51-9022.00

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.

US jobs
10,510
Median wage
$42,660 a year
Job family
Physical work

Can agents do the work of grinding and polishing workers, hand?

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.

  • 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.
  • Move controls to adjust, start, or stop equipment during grinding and polishing processes.
  • Load and adjust workpieces onto equipment or work tables, using hand tools.
  • Repair and maintain equipment, objects, or parts, using hand tools.
  • Select files or other abrasives, according to materials, sizes and shapes of workpieces, amount of stock to be removed, finishes specified, and steps in finishing processes.
  • File grooved, contoured, and irregular surfaces of metal objects, such as metalworking dies and machine parts, to conform to templates, other parts, layouts, or blueprint specifications.
  • Sharpen abrasive grinding tools, using machines and hand tools.
Other job titles for this occupation (80)

Buffer · Casting Finisher · Chipper · Finisher · Grinder · Jewelry Polisher · Knife Grinder · Metal Finisher · Polisher · Stand Grinder · Aircraft Skin Burnisher · Balance Wheel Arm Burnisher · Balance Wheel Hand Filer · Barrel Finisher · Beveler · Bit Shaver · Burrer · Cabinet Finisher · Center Hole Reamer · Deburr Finisher · Deburr Hand · Deburr Operator · Dial Polisher · Fettler · Fiberglass Boat Parts Finisher · Filer · Final Finisher · Finishing Technician (Finishing Tech) · Flat Surfacer · Forging Dies Final Finisher · Glass Beveler · Glass Edger · Glass Finisher · Glass Grinder · Glass Polisher · Glass Sander · Glass Smoother · Gold Burnisher · Golf Club Facer · Grease Buffer · Grinder Chipper · Grinding and Polishing Laborer · Gun Barrel Finisher · Hand Buffer · Hand Edger · Hand Finisher · Hand Grinder · Hand Polisher · Hand Reamer · Hand Sander · Hand Scraper · Hand Shaper · Hand Stone Polisher · Hand Stoner · Hand Tool Filer · Hand Wood Sander · Implant Polisher · Jewel Bearing Broacher · Jewel Bearing Polisher · Jewel Bearing Turner · Jewel Grinder · Jewel Hole Cornerer · Jewel Hole Rough Opener · Jewelry Grinder · Metal Mold Dresser · Metal Sander · Mirror Polisher · Mold Dresser · Mold Finisher · Natural Fabricator · Needle Polisher · Nib Finisher · Parts Finisher · Patch Sander · Pipe Buffer · Pipe Finisher · Pivot End Polisher · Plastic Boat Buffer · Plate Conditioner · Product Finisher