Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

Career Overview

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 Known As

• Chipper
• Finisher
• Grinder
• Polisher

Alternate Job Titles

• Aircraft Skin Burnisher
• Balance Wheel Arm Burnisher
• Balance Wheel Hand Filer
• Barrel Finisher
• Beveler
• Bit Shaver
• Buffer
• Burrer
• Cabinet Finisher
• Casting Finisher
• Center Hole Reamer
• Chipper
• Deburr Finisher
• Deburr Hand
• Deburr Operator

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

• 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.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

• Production and Processing
• Mechanical

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Near Vision
• Control Precision
• Finger Dexterity
• Manual Dexterity
• Multilimb Coordination
• Oral Comprehension
• Selective Attention
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

• Attention to Detail
• Dependability
• Cautiousness
• Perseverance
• Achievement Orientation

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

• Support
• Relationships
• Working Conditions
• Independence
• Achievement

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: 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.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word

Tools & Equipment

• Air grinders
• Angle grinders
• Belt sanders
• Buffing wheels
• Cleaning scrapers
• Dial bore gauges
• Dial indicators
• Digital height gauges
• Digital micrometers
• Electric sander-polishers
• File cards
• Finishers
• Flat cold chisels
• Measuring tapes
• Orbit polishers

Work Environment

• Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
• Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
• Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
• Exposed to Contaminants

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$32,120
Median	$41,690
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$57,250

Workers Employed Nationally: 11,850

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.