Cutters and Trimmers
O*NET title: 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: Aluminum Sheet Cutter, Basting Puller, Belt Splicer, Bright Cutter, Bucker, Buttoner
Median pay
$38,020
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$26,630 – $57,870
People employed
6,060
Holland code
RCA
Realistic · Conventional · Artistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 2.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 3.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 4.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 5.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 6.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 7.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 8.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
Cutters and Trimmers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (30 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What cutters and trimmers do
- 01Mark or discard items with defects such as spots, stains, scars, snags, chips, scratches, or unacceptable shapes or finishes.
- 02Trim excess material or cut threads off finished products, such as cutting loose ends of plastic off a manufactured toy for a smoother finish.
- 03Cut, shape, and trim materials, such as textiles, food, glass, stone, and metal, using knives, scissors, and other hand tools, portable power tools, or bench-mounted tools.
- 04Position templates or measure materials to locate specified points of cuts or to obtain maximum yields, using rules, scales, or patterns.
- 05Read work orders to determine dimensions, cutting locations, and quantities to cut.
- 06Mark cutting lines around patterns or templates, or follow layout points, using squares, rules, and straightedges, and chalk, pencils, or scribes.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Computers and Electronics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from cutters and trimmers
- Sewing Machine Operators84% · −4%
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers78% · +8%
- Packers and Packagers, Hand76% · −5%
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood74% · +12%
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products73% · −6%
Change into cutters and trimmers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Sewing Machine Operators84% · $36,670
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers79% · $34,890
- Packers and Packagers, Hand79% · $36,280
- Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers74% · $37,800
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products73% · $35,730