A Grinder's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Grinder Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Grinder's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $44,798
Early Career (1-2 years): $45,285
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $46,504
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $47,202
Expert (over 8 years): $47,377
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Grinder
$44,798
Intermediate Level Grinder
$45,285
Senior Level Grinder
$46,504
Specialist Level Grinder
$47,202
Expert Level Grinder
$47,377
$44,7980 yr
$45,285< 2 yrs
$46,5042-4 yrs
$47,2025-8 yrs
$47,377> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Grinder Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Grinders.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $58,436
San Francisco: $57,796
Oakland: $56,578
San Jose, CA$58,436
San Francisco, CA$57,796
Oakland, CA$56,578
New York, NY$53,344
Paramus, NJ$52,695
Queens Village, NY$52,693
Passaic, NJ$52,649
Bergenfield, NJ$52,645
Stamford, CT$52,543
Huntington, NY$52,524
Newark, NJ$52,181
Bridgeport, CT$52,084
Vallejo, CA$51,992
New Brunswick, NJ$51,973
Petaluma, CA$51,945
Middlesex, NJ$51,857
Somerset, NJ$51,825
Santa Cruz, CA$51,765
Boston, MA$51,482
Monterey, CA$51,319
Seattle, WA$51,213
Santa Rosa, CA$51,204
Los Angeles, CA$51,190
Juneau, AK$51,070
Washington, DC$51,019
Orange, CA$50,854
Santa Ana, CA$50,731
Long Beach, CA$50,685
Anaheim, CA$50,676
Anchorage, AK$50,653
Santa Maria, CA$50,514
Everett, WA$50,504
Danbury, CT$50,341
Bremerton, WA$50,277
Tacoma, WA$50,111
New Suffolk, NY$50,110
Sacramento, CA$50,097
Santa Barbara, CA$50,046
Trenton, NJ$49,995
San Diego, CA$49,995
Brockton, MA$49,944
Fairbanks, AK$49,830
Lompoc, CA$49,712
Lowell, MA$49,675
Ventura, CA$49,666
Nashua, NH$49,656
Stockton, CA$49,652
Modesto, CA$49,314
Poughkeepsie, NY$49,212
Olympia, WA$49,124
Kennewick, WA$49,124
New Haven, CT$49,105
Lawrence, MA$48,938
Hartford, CT$48,892
Riverside, CA$48,883
New Bedford, MA$48,836
Richland, WA$48,836
Bakersfield, CA$48,772
San Bernardino, CA$48,753
New Britain, CT$48,748
Atlantic City, NJ$48,748
New London, CT$48,730
Norwich, CT$48,716
Portsmouth, NH$48,707
Boulder, CO$48,609
Portland, OR$48,545
Worcester, MA$48,540
Minneapolis, MN$48,396
Philadelphia, PA$48,331
Honolulu, HI$48,179
Saint Paul, MN$48,156
Vineland, NJ$48,146
Providence, RI$48,012
Chicago, IL$47,877
Bellingham, WA$47,822
Springfield, MA$47,785
Baltimore, MD$47,771
Chico, CA$47,655
Pittsfield, MA$47,530
Manchester, NH$47,442
Spokane, WA$47,238
Denver, CO$47,233
Albany, NY$47,016
Troy, NY$46,997
Nassau, NY$46,948
Schenectady, NY$46,900
Wilmington, DE$46,863
Burlington, VT$46,798
Salem, OR$46,779
Portland, ME$46,636
Yakima, WA$46,589
Rochester, MN$46,446
Reno, NV$46,423
Fresno, CA$46,423
Milwaukee, WI$46,381
Detroit, MI$46,335
Ann Arbor, MI$46,327
Allentown, PA$46,321
Colorado Springs, CO$46,242
Syracuse, NY$46,219
Carson City, NV$46,219
Houston, TX$46,154
Eugene, OR$46,131
Gary, IN$46,075
Springfield, OR$46,038
Bismarck, ND$46,029
Galveston, TX$45,996
Medford, OR$45,927
Fort Collins, CO$45,908
Concord, NH$45,885
Austin, TX$45,871
Mesa, AZ$45,774
Reading, PA$45,769
Phoenix, AZ$45,765
Dallas, TX$45,751
Saint Cloud, MN$45,706
Madison, WI$45,644
Utica, NY$45,519
Rochester, NY$45,445
Des Moines, IA$45,440
Raleigh, NC$45,436
Atlanta, GA$45,366
Battle Creek, MI$45,352
Salt Lake City, UT$45,339
Lancaster, PA$45,269
Harrisburg, PA$45,204
Kansas City, MO$45,158
Champaign, IL$45,149
Kansas City, KS$45,149
Fort Worth, TX$45,144
Columbus, OH$45,136
Boca Raton, FL$45,125
Pittsburgh, PA$45,107
Richmond, VA$45,088
Indianapolis, IN$45,079
Cleveland, OH$45,074
Las Vegas, NV$45,019
Cincinnati, OH$45,019
Petersburg, VA$44,949
Huntsville, AL$44,880
Lansing, MI$44,849
Lebanon, PA$44,843
Pueblo, CO$44,838
Appleton, WI$44,824
Buffalo, NY$44,806
Dayton, OH$44,792
Racine, WI$44,783
Charlotte, NC$44,778
Saint Louis, MO$44,764
York, PA$44,736
Elkhart, IN$44,736
Gastonia, NC$44,727
Billings, MT$44,716
Beaumont, TX$44,704
Lorain, OH$44,695
Benton Harbor, MI$44,685
Toledo, OH$44,676
Binghamton, NY$44,653
Rock Hill, SC$44,648
Rockford, IL$44,625
Springfield, IL$44,607
Elyria, OH$44,602
Fargo, ND$44,602
Flagstaff, AZ$44,569
Fort Lauderdale, FL$44,542
Duluth, MN$44,514
Miami, FL$44,514
Cheyenne, WY$44,481
Grand Forks, ND$44,481
Bangor, ME$44,380
Cedar Rapids, IA$44,329
Durham, NC$44,309
Louisville, KY$44,305
Grand Rapids, MI$44,296
Hialeah, FL$44,291
Casper, WY$44,227
Scranton, PA$44,171
New Orleans, LA$44,157
Virginia Beach, VA$44,152
Akron, OH$44,129
Peoria, IL$44,069
Sarasota, FL$44,060
Nashville, TN$44,027
Omaha, NE$44,027
Green Bay, WI$44,027
Baton Rouge, LA$44,004
Charleston, SC$43,995
Jamestown, NY$43,972
Davenport, IA$43,972
Tucson, AZ$43,949
Saint Petersburg, FL$43,921
Tampa, FL$43,912
Evansville, IN$43,884
Port Arthur, TX$43,884
Bradenton, FL$43,865
Santa Fe, NM$43,782
Orlando, FL$43,698
Clearwater, FL$43,685
Canton, OH$43,587
La Crosse, WI$43,587
Albuquerque, NM$43,559
Newport News, VA$43,555
High Point, NC$43,541
Ogden, UT$43,522
Corpus Christi, TX$43,485
Norfolk, VA$43,458
Laramie, WY$43,458
Rock Island, IL$43,430
Saginaw, MI$43,420
Jacksonville, FL$43,416
Salisbury, NC$43,407
Boise, ID$43,397
Moline, IL$43,374
Fort Myers, FL$43,360
Memphis, TN$43,351
Tulsa, OK$43,328
Waterloo, IA$43,300
Spartanburg, SC$43,254
Lincoln, NE$43,231
Fort Wayne, IN$43,221
Provo, UT$43,217
Cedar Falls, IA$43,161
San Antonio, TX$43,142
Greensboro, NC$43,124
South Bend, IN$43,119
Savannah, GA$43,068
Muskegon, MI$43,050
Birmingham, AL$43,045
Winston Salem, NC$43,023
Lake Charles, LA$42,911
Anderson, IN$42,902
Lexington, KY$42,888
Augusta, GA$42,874
Greenville, SC$42,874
Lima, OH$42,837
Wichita, KS$42,832
Tuscaloosa, AL$42,832
Columbia, SC$42,790
Springfield, OH$42,781
Asheville, NC$42,707
Bloomington, IN$42,675
Knoxville, TN$42,508
Shreveport, LA$42,503
Wilmington, NC$42,443
Roanoke, VA$42,443
Topeka, KS$42,360
Frankfort, KY$42,354
Oklahoma City, OK$42,322
Chillicothe, OH$42,304
Longview, TX$42,299
Melbourne, FL$42,295
Sioux Falls, SD$42,221
Mobile, AL$42,216
Terre Haute, IN$42,197
Altoona, PA$42,170
Amarillo, TX$42,137
Killeen, TX$42,123
Fayetteville, AR$42,086
Chattanooga, TN$42,072
Sioux City, IA$42,031
Idaho Falls, ID$42,021
Lynchburg, VA$41,984
Gainesville, FL$41,924
Portsmouth, OH$41,901
Little Rock, AR$41,892
Lafayette, LA$41,873
Youngstown, OH$41,873
Daytona Beach, FL$41,845
Clarksville, TN$41,841
Pensacola, FL$41,836
Temple, TX$41,833
Hopkinsville, KY$41,697
Erie, PA$41,688
Florence, SC$41,669
Charleston, WV$41,595
Great Falls, MT$41,572
Macon, GA$41,507
Tallahassee, FL$41,502
Fayetteville, NC$41,493
Waco, TX$41,484
Helena, MT$41,451
Pine Bluff, AR$41,434
Vincennes, IN$41,377
Lubbock, TX$41,359
Alamogordo, NM$41,331
Twin Falls, ID$41,289
Rapid City, SD$41,275
Jackson, MS$41,192
Huntington, WV$41,189
Greenville, MS$41,187
Parkersburg, WV$41,140
Montgomery, AL$41,132
Wichita Falls, TX$41,085
Springfield, MO$41,085
Biloxi, MS$41,062
Monroe, LA$41,016
Johnstown, PA$40,984
Sumter, SC$40,965
Columbus, GA$40,960
Pascagoula, MS$40,872
Abilene, TX$40,872
Kingsport, TN$40,752
Albany, GA$40,752
Gulfport, MS$40,738
Alexandria, LA$40,585
Fort Smith, AR$40,469
El Paso, TX$40,344
Las Cruces, NM$40,136
Harlingen, TX$40,018
Pocatello, ID$40,011
Florence, AL$39,950
Brownsville, TX$39,941
Mcallen, TX$39,844
Dothan, AL$39,779
Columbus, MS$39,504
Altus, OK$39,288
Lawton, OK$39,200
Pierre, SD$39,033
What Skills Can Increase a Grinder's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Innovation (Mentioned in 2.92% Job Postings): The ability and process of implementing new ideas and initiatives to improve organizational performance.
Container (Mentioned in 2.36% Job Postings): Container is an object used for or capable of holding, esp for transport or storage, such as a carton, box, etc.
Product Specifications (Mentioned in 1.94% Job Postings): Ability to create, read, and follow product specifications for the design and development of the product.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Innovation
2.92%
Container
2.36%
Product Specifications
1.94%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Grinder's salary.
Active Learning: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
Information Capture: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
Quality Management System: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Active Learning
$56,523
22%
Information Capture
$55,133
19%
Quality Management System
$53,280
15%
Analysis
$50,963
10%
Manufacturing Safety
$50,036
8%
Accuracy and Attention to Detail
$50,036
8%
Get Latest Data
Grinder Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Grinder salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $51,179.
While startup companies pay approximate $43,307.
Grinder Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$43,307
Growth Stage
51~500
$45,792
Established
501~5000
$49,431
Enterprise
5000+
$51,179
Grinder Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Grinder roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and MFG Durable
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average.
In contrast, Grinder positions in Construction or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Grinder as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Grinder
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense
$60,229
$29.0
30%
MFG Durable
$48,646
$23.0
5%
How Education impacts a Grinder's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Grinders enter the field with a No Diploma degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Grinder with a No Diploma is between
$36,906
and $39,877).
Grinder Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Grinder
No Diploma10.5%
High School78.9%
Associates10.5%
Bachelors0.0%
Masters0.0%
Doctorate0.0%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
10.5%
High School
78.9%
Associates
10.5%
Bachelors
0.0%
Masters
0.0%
Doctorate
0.0%
view as graph
Grinder Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Grinder's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$41,664
Average$46,330/year
$48,668
$3,472
Average$3,861/month
$4,056
$801
Average$891/week
$936
$20
Average$22/hour
$23
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$48,668
$4,056
$936
$23
Average
$46,330
$3,861
$891
$22
25th Percentile
$41,664
$3,472
$801
$20
Grinder Salary Growth & Career Path
For a Grinder, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Precision Grinder role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$52,167 - a projected growth of
13%
over your current level.
Salaries for a Grinder can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $48,247 in 2023
to around $47,515 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Grinder salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Grinder Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$48,247
2024
$47,818
2025
$47,515
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$48,247
2024
$47,818
2025
$47,515
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Grinder
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Grinder
Here are companies hiring for Grinder and their salaries, click below for more details.
M
$78,348/per year
McDermott
Construction
the United States
D
$77,426/per year
DR Horton
Construction
the United States
P
$75,049/per year
Puerto Rico Council on Education
Construction
the United States
H
$71,917/per year
HW Power Inc
Construction
the United States
H
$70,761/per year
Heritage Mechanical
Construction
the United States
C
$70,334/per year
CapStone Solar Inc
Construction
the United States
A
$70,304/per year
Ars Aleut Construction LLC
Construction
the United States
L
$70,208/per year
LG Development Group
Construction
the United States
O
$69,653/per year
Omega Electrical Inc
Construction
the United States
G
$64,330/per year
GreenHalo Builds LLC
Construction
the United States
P
$64,263/per year
Pars Garma Co
Construction
the United States
C
$63,929/per year
CED Miller Electric Co
Construction
the United States
C
$63,801/per year
Cheney Custom Homes LLC
Construction
the United States
A
$63,530/per year
Arizona 811
Construction
the United States
B
$63,120/per year
Bilrey Construction
Construction
the United States
K
$62,804/per year
KA Wolfe LLC
Construction
the United States
M
$61,565/per year
Motivado Group
Construction
the United States
D
$60,095/per year
DW Tile & Stone
Construction
the United States
M
$59,885/per year
Mario's Painting
Construction
the United States
K
$59,870/per year
Kings Construction
Construction
the United States
P
$59,556/per year
Payne & Payne Renovations
Construction
the United States
W
$58,117/per year
Werthan LLC
Construction
the United States
F
$57,992/per year
Foundation Mechanical LLC
Construction
the United States
H
$57,612/per year
Home Builders Financial Partners LLC
Construction
the United States
Z
$54,905/per year
Zone Heating and Cooling
Construction
the United States
Find Your Next Grinder Job
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Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
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FAQ about Grinder
1. Where can a Grinder earn the most?
A Grinder's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Grinder earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Grinder is $58,436.
2. What is the highest pay for Grinder?
The highest pay for Grinder is $50,797.
3. What is the lowest pay for Grinder?
The lowest pay for Grinder is $37,416.
4. What are the responsibilities of Grinder?
Operates grinding machines to assemble products and product parts to established blueprint and engineering specifications. Selects, mounts, attaches and calibrates a variety of attachments to grind angles, contours, lines, spheres, etc. on to surfaces. Requires a high school diploma. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works under moderate supervision. Gaining or has attained full proficiency in a specific area of discipline. Typically requires 1-3 years of related experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Grinder?
The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Grinder roles,
with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
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