SOC 51-4194 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners — Houston
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX · 1 metro areas compared
In Houston, TX the median wage for Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners is $62,300 a year, which is 24.5% higher than the national figure of $50,060.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -7.8%
- Openings per year
- 500
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
In Houston, TX the median wage for Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners is $62,300 a year, which is 24.5% higher than the national figure of $50,060. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $46,000 and $78,610. The lowest tenth earn under $38,020, while the highest tenth earn more than $78,670.
Within the state, Dallas records the highest median at $33,830. Of the 699 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 311th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,020 | −24.1% |
| 25th | $46,000 | −8.1% |
| Median (50th) | $62,300 | +24.5% |
| 75th | $78,610 | +57.0% |
| 90th | $78,670 | +57.2% |
| Mean | $57,860 | +15.6% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas | $33,830 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Houston sit close to the national average, so $62,300 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$62,300as reported by BLSLocal price level
98.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$63,185US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,300 a year, 24.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,020 to $78,670 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Dallas, at $33,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners in Houston, TX?
The median annual wage is $62,300, or $29.95 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $50,060, so pay in Houston, TX is 24.5% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Houston, TX earns more than $78,670 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,020 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Dallas, at $33,830 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data