Jobs Similar to Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators.
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners: $50,060 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
83% similar · $49,080 (−2%) · High school · Same group
- 2Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
82% similar · $46,550 (−7%) · High school · Same group
- 3Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
81% similar · $50,690 (+1%) · High school
- 4Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
81% similar · $46,330 (−7%) · High school · Same group
- 5Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
81% similar · $43,380 (−13%) · High school
- 6Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
81% similar · $52,800 (+5%) · High school · Same group
- 7Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
81% similar · $44,350 (−11%) · High school · Same group
- 8Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
80% similar · $38,760 (−23%) · High school
- 9Machinists
80% similar · $58,750 (+17%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 10Industrial Machinery Mechanics
80% similar · $64,520 (+29%) · Training or associate
- 11Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
80% similar · $53,710 (+7%) · High school
- 12Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $47,180 (−6%) · High school · Same group
- 13Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
80% similar · $42,660 (−15%) · High school
- 14Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $50,140 (0%) · High school · Same group
- 15Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
79% similar · $49,030 (−2%) · High school · Same group
- 16Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $41,330 (−17%) · High school
- 17Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
79% similar · $46,350 (−7%) · High school
- 18Tool and Die Makers
79% similar · $64,050 (+28%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 19Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
79% similar · $46,570 (−7%) · High school
- 20Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
79% similar · $45,760 (−9%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand (90)
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators (88)
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians (86)
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (85)
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing (85)
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (84)
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (84)
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (83)
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (82)
- Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers (81)
Questions about jobs like tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners
What jobs are most similar to tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (83% similar), Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (82% similar), Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators (81% similar), Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (81% similar) and Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing (81% similar).
Which jobs like tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Industrial Machinery Mechanics ($64,520, +29%; usually training or an associate degree), Tool and Die Makers ($64,050, +28%; usually training or an associate degree) and Machinists ($58,750, +17%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners ($50,060). Without more preparation than tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners usually need: Engine and Other Machine Assemblers, Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.