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.

Also called: 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, Ring Polisher, Sander, Sander and Buffer, Sandstone Repairer, Spin Table Operator, Steel Barrel Reamer, Stock Shaper, Stoner, Valve Grinder, Veneer Manufacturer, Ware Cleaner, Watch Crystal Grinder, Wood Finisher

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.

Skills, machines and equipment

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

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (37.33% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

37,450–49,980 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-9022.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (37.33% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand