Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Salary
In Missouri, tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners earn $52,540 at the median, or about $25.26 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $59,054 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 31.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $53K get you in Missouri?
About tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners
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What this looks like in Missouri
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $53K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners salary by metro in Missouri
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $62K | +17% | 100 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a tool grinders, filers, and sharpener afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 30.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,543/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is tool grinders, filers, and sharpener a high-paying job in Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $53K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners?
Missouri pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners make in Missouri?
The median is $52,540 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,390, and experienced tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners can clear $61,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,546/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 30.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners salary go in Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners salary is worth about $59,054 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.