Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
Use hand tools or hand-held power tools to cut and trim a variety of manufactured items, such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass, or rubber.
Also called: Cloth Cutter · Denim Cutter · Fabric Cutter · Finisher · Glass Cutter · Hand Cutter
Median pay (national)
$38,800
$29,910–$57,820 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
7,070
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-18.1%
~600 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for cutters and trimmers, hand shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $57,820 versus $29,910 at the bottom 10% — 1.9x. The median of $38,800 leaves roughly 49% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -18.1% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 600 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 33 states with released data, Vermont pays the most for this role (median $60,290, +55% vs the national median), while Louisiana sits lowest at $23,890 — a 152% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Position templates or measure materials to locate specified points of cuts or to obtain maximum yields, using rules, scales, or patterns.
- Replace or sharpen dulled cutting tools such as saws.
- Mark or discard items with defects such as spots, stains, scars, snags, chips, scratches, or unacceptable shapes or finishes.
- Trim excess material or cut threads off finished products, such as cutting loose ends of plastic off a manufactured toy for a smoother finish.
- Read work orders to determine dimensions, cutting locations, and quantities to cut.
- Mark cutting lines around patterns or templates, or follow layout points, using squares, rules, and straightedges, and chalk, pencils, or scribes.
- Mark identification numbers, trademarks, grades, marketing data, sizes, or model numbers on products.
- Unroll, lay out, attach, or mount materials or items on cutting tables or machines.
- Separate materials or products according to size, weight, type, condition, color, or shade.
- Fold or shape materials before or after cutting them.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Psychology