Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners vs Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Salary, Job Outlook & Education | Career Matchup
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Career comparison

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners vs Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Compare the evidence side by side. Career Matchup shows the source data without declaring an overall winner.

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01 · Compensation

Pay and employment

Median annual wage

2025

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$50,060
95% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,800
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4035

Mean annual wage

2025

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$53,240
94% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$56,740
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4035

Hourly median wage

2025

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$24.07
95% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$25.39
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4035

Hourly mean wage

2025

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$25.59
94% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$27.28
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4035

10th percentile annual wage

2025

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$35,350
93% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$37,840
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4035

25th percentile annual wage

2025

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$40,800
90% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,210
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4035

75th percentile annual wage

2025

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$62,150
96% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$64,900
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4035

90th percentile annual wage

2025

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$77,170
95% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$81,030
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4035

National employment

2025

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners5,600
45% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic12,460
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4035

02 · Outlook

Employment outlook

Bars compare the same metric across the two careers. They are not an overall score.

Projected employment change

2025-2035

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners-6.8%
52% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic-13.2%
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4035

Average annual openings

2025-2035

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners0.5k
50% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1k
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4035

03 · Preparation

Education and training

Typical entry-level education

2025-2035

Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersHigh school diploma or equivalent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4035

Related work experience

2025-2035

Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersNot available

Value missing or suppressed in source.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNot available

Value missing or suppressed in source.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4035

On-the-job training

2025-2035

Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersModerate-term on-the-job training

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticModerate-term on-the-job training

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4035

04 · Context and fit

Work context

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Contact with others

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.3 raw · CX scale
34% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3.5 raw · CX scale
62% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Time pressure

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners3.5 raw · CX scale
63% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic4.1 raw · CX scale
77% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Spend time standing

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners3.5 raw · CX scale
63% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic4.5 raw · CX scale
88% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Exposed to contaminants

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.6 raw · CX scale
40% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic4.1 raw · CX scale
78% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Exposed to disease or infections

Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersNot available

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1 raw · CX scale
0% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Exposed to hazardous equipment

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners3 raw · CX scale
49% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3.6 raw · CX scale
64% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

04 · Context and fit

Skills

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Active listening

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Mathematics

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.8 raw · LV scale
39% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Monitoring

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3.1 raw · LV scale
45% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Reading comprehension

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.8 raw · LV scale
39% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Critical thinking

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.8 raw · LV scale
39% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3 raw · LV scale
43% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Active learning

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.4 raw · LV scale
34% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.4 raw · LV scale
34% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Speaking

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.3 raw · LV scale
32% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.5 raw · LV scale
36% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Writing

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.3 raw · LV scale
32% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.3 raw · LV scale
32% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

04 · Context and fit

Work styles

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Dependability

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.1 raw · WI scale
86% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.2 raw · WI scale
86% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Attention to detail

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.7 raw · WI scale
95% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.7 raw · WI scale
95% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Stress tolerance

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners0.9 raw · WI scale
64% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic0.8 raw · WI scale
64% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Cooperation

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners0 raw · WI scale
50% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic0.3 raw · WI scale
55% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4035.00

Explore your next step

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

Read the full profile, preparation, skills and source details.

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Read the full profile, preparation, skills and source details.

  • Use the career comparison checklist

Sources

Each side retains the source release, reference period, occupation code, and file hash used for the comparison.

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release May 2025 · Reference 2025

Occupation code 51-4194 · SHA-256 b5855a37f3e03e779f6fbf173d3bbc94aeeff33426aef32fa95ce6d025bab1af

Employment Projections

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release 2025-2035 · Reference 2025-2035

Occupation code 51-4194 · SHA-256 a7d060f0576f7d4f5b829b9a0bb4a6c11a12766d159ebb0e07aab5bd2e7583c5

O*NET Database

Source-backed

O*NET Resource Center

Release 31.0 · Reference August 2026

Occupation code 51-4194.00 · SHA-256 c63ad00a8e45f3d3ef8e1529fcf8864d2279f2dfcb98737436818f5664781b04

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release May 2025 · Reference 2025

Occupation code 51-4035 · SHA-256 b5855a37f3e03e779f6fbf173d3bbc94aeeff33426aef32fa95ce6d025bab1af

Employment Projections

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release 2025-2035 · Reference 2025-2035

Occupation code 51-4035 · SHA-256 a7d060f0576f7d4f5b829b9a0bb4a6c11a12766d159ebb0e07aab5bd2e7583c5

O*NET Database

Source-backed

O*NET Resource Center

Release 31.0 · Reference August 2026

Occupation code 51-4035.00 · SHA-256 c63ad00a8e45f3d3ef8e1529fcf8864d2279f2dfcb98737436818f5664781b04

Read the data in context

Career Matchup does not declare an overall winner. National estimates can hide local variation, and O*NET relative values describe the named construct rather than whether a career is better.

Career Matchup is an independent comparison tool.

Data sourcesData availabilityAboutFree guideContactPrivacyTermsData: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET® Database.