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The average grinder salary in the United States stands at $33,001 annually or $16 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on numerous factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry in which a grinder operates. For instance, grinders in high-demand areas or specialized fields tend to earn higher wages.
Entry-level grinders may start at a lower pay scale, approximately $25,000, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $40,000. This progression emphasizes the value of experience in the workforce.
Some of the highest-paying states for grinders include California, New York, and Texas, where demand for skilled workers significantly influences salaries. Understanding these regional differences can help aspiring grinders target their job searches effectively.
Grinders can explore various job openings across different sectors, including automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing. Websites like Zippia list numerous openings, allowing job seekers to find opportunities that match their skills and salary expectations.
Let Zippi find your next grinder job
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level grinder | $28,000 | $13.46 |
| Mid-level grinder | $36,500 | $17.57 |
| Senior-level grinder | $48,800 | $23.46 |
The average grinder salary in New Mexico, Wyoming, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average grinder salary states are West Virginia, Kentucky, and Virginia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $39,809 | $19.14 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $36,877 | $17.73 |
| 3 | Iowa | $34,643 | $16.66 |
| 4 | Washington | $39,308 | $18.90 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $41,499 | $19.95 |
| 7 | Nevada | $37,377 | $17.97 |
| 8 | Alaska | $38,190 | $18.36 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $41,821 | $20.11 |
| 10 | Colorado | $39,141 | $18.82 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $33,150 | $15.94 |
| 12 | Maine | $33,899 | $16.30 |
| 13 | South Dakota | $31,953 | $15.36 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $34,731 | $16.70 |
| 15 | Ohio | $32,482 | $15.62 |
| 16 | Utah | $33,485 | $16.10 |
| 17 | Vermont | $35,873 | $17.25 |
| 18 | Indiana | $31,989 | $15.38 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $33,641 | $16.17 |
| 20 | Missouri | $32,860 | $15.80 |
| 21 | Arizona | $34,042 | $16.37 |
| 22 | California | $36,837 | $17.71 |
| 23 | Michigan | $32,094 | $15.43 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $31,804 | $15.29 |
| 25 | Kansas | $32,195 | $15.48 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $35,955 | $17.29 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $31,332 | $15.06 |
| 28 | New York | $35,643 | $17.14 |
| 29 | Idaho | $33,072 | $15.90 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $36,196 | $17.40 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| 32 | Alabama | $31,449 | $15.12 |
| 33 | Montana | $33,167 | $15.95 |
| 34 | Delaware | $33,686 | $16.20 |
| 35 | Texas | $30,886 | $14.85 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $30,261 | $14.55 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $30,910 | $14.86 |
| 38 | Connecticut | $32,268 | $15.51 |
| 39 | Illinois | $30,271 | $14.55 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $29,585 | $14.22 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $31,208 | $15.00 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $27,737 | $13.34 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $28,475 | $13.69 |
| 44 | Georgia | $28,417 | $13.66 |
| 45 | Maryland | $31,455 | $15.12 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $27,364 | $13.16 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $26,493 | $12.74 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $27,809 | $13.37 |
| 49 | District of Columbia | $30,437 | $14.63 |
| 50 | Florida | $27,412 | $13.18 |
| 51 | Virginia | $27,663 | $13.30 |
The highest-paying cities for grinders are Tualatin, OR, Englewood, CO, and Minneapolis, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tualatin, OR | $39,780 | $19.13 |
| 2 | Englewood, CO | $39,198 | $18.85 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $36,865 | $17.72 |
| 4 | Simi Valley, CA | $36,803 | $17.69 |
| 5 | Fargo, ND | $35,677 | $17.15 |
| 6 | Ogden, UT | $33,483 | $16.10 |
| 7 | Erie, PA | $33,387 | $16.05 |
| 8 | Euclid, OH | $32,906 | $15.82 |
| 9 | Bay City, MI | $32,389 | $15.57 |
| 10 | Stratford, CT | $32,241 | $15.50 |
| 11 | Hastings, NE | $31,857 | $15.32 |
| 12 | Denton, TX | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $30,301 | $14.57 |
| 14 | Bristol, TN | $29,559 | $14.21 |
| 15 | Tulsa, OK | $28,506 | $13.70 |
| 16 | Columbia, SC | $27,449 | $13.20 |
| 17 | Norfolk, VA | $27,428 | $13.19 |
| 18 | Orlando, FL | $27,397 | $13.17 |
A grinder's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $40,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| Average | $33,001 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
The highest paying types of grinders are machinist class b, machinist supervisor, and maintenance machinist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outside Machinist | $42,858 | $3,571 | $20.60 | 24,075 |
| Manual Machinist | $48,038 | $4,003 | $23.10 | 9,149 |
| Tool Technician | $42,908 | $3,576 | $20.63 | 78,258 |
| Saw Operator | $32,319 | $2,693 | $15.54 | 58,465 |
| Maintenance Machinist | $52,077 | $4,340 | $25.04 | 83,042 |
| Computer Numerical Controller Machinist | $41,685 | $3,474 | $20.04 | 32,345 |
Top companies hiring grinders now:
Grinder salaries at Kennametal and Grede are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average grinder salary at companies like Safe Fleet and Nordson are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennametal | $44,468 | $21.38 |
| 2 | Grede | $43,924 | $21.12 |
| 3 | Safe Fleet | $43,260 | $20.80 |
| 4 | Nordson | $42,841 | $20.60 |
| 5 | Sloan Valve | $42,429 | $20.40 |
| 6 | SMT | $42,201 | $20.29 |
| 7 | Carolina Sunrock Llc | $41,945 | $20.17 |
| 8 | Columbia Steel Casting Co., Inc. | $41,539 | $19.97 |
| 9 | Olympic Steel | $41,016 | $19.72 |
| 10 | Freedman Seating | $40,929 | $19.68 |
| 11 | Compunnel | $40,644 | $19.54 |
| 12 | Amcor | $40,156 | $19.31 |
| 13 | Applied Medical Resources | $39,661 | $19.07 |
| 14 | ATI Physical Therapy | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| 15 | II-VI | $39,195 | $18.84 |
| 16 | QPS | $39,029 | $18.76 |
| 17 | Francis Manufacturing | $39,000 | $18.75 |
| 18 | Cargill | $38,970 | $18.74 |
| 19 | Wabash National | $38,755 | $18.63 |
| 20 | The Cook & Boardman Group | $38,665 | $18.59 |
The average grinder salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $40,459 | $19.45 |
| 2 | Agriculture | $38,677 | $18.59 |
| 3 | Technology | $37,901 | $18.22 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $37,878 | $18.21 |
| 5 | Professional | $37,489 | $18.02 |
| 6 | Energy | $36,886 | $17.73 |
The average grinder salary has risen by $4,766 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average grinder earned $28,235 annually, but today, they earn $33,001 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for grinders over the last decade.
Compare grinder salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare grinder salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,000 | $15.87 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $32,000 | $15.37 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $31,400 | $15.10 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $30,700 | $14.74 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $30,000 | $14.43 | +2.8% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howmet Holdings Corporation | Grinder | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| Aerotek | Grinder | Woodinville, WA | 06/28/2025 | $48,001 |
| Advance Services | 1St. Shift Grinder | Bushnell, IL | 06/27/2025 | $34,436 |
| TPI Staffing | Grinders | Houston, TX | 06/27/2025 | $31,305 |
| Rexnord Industries | Grinder-ID-2ND Shift | Simi Valley, CA | 06/26/2025 | $50,088 |
| Neenah Foundry Company | Grinder-Production 2Nd Shift | Lincoln, NE | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Romac Industries, Inc. | Rough Grinder I (Weekend Shift) | Sultan, WA | 06/26/2025 | $42,262 |
| Employnet | Grinder | Clovis, CA | 06/26/2025 | $34,436 |
| Aerotek | Grinder-1St. Shift (Long Term) | South El Monte, CA | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Manpowergroup | Production/Grinder | Chester, IL | 06/24/2025 | $33,392 |
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