Career Paths From Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move92.6% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 7% lower.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$46,550
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Grinding and Polishing Workers, HandLateral Move96% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 15% lower.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$42,660
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move92.1% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 3% lower.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$48,540
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move93.7% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 7% lower.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$46,330
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station OperatorsCareer Change93.4% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 54% higher.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$77,320
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodLateral Move92.7% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 15% lower.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$42,770
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead PumpersCareer Change93.2% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 23% higher.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$61,770
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pile Driver OperatorsCareer Change92.2% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Pile Driver Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Pile Driver Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 46% higher.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$73,300
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsCareer Change92.8% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 20% higher.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$59,850
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move91.4% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 23% lower.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$38,760
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and GasCareer Change93.3% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 20% higher.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$60,190
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsCareer Change92.1% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 40% higher.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$70,070
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersLateral Move94.7% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 9% higher.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$54,430
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersLateral Move94.1% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 7% lower.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$46,460
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Gas Plant OperatorsLateral Move92% skill match
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners and Gas Plant Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Gas Plant Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 75% higher.
Current median salary
$50,060
Target median salary
$87,820
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.