Cutters and Trimmers, Hand earn a median of $38,020 per year ($18.28/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 18.9% through 2035, with about 500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 51-9031
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Cutter and Trimmer, Hand in four numbers
- Median pay
- $38,020a year, or $18.28/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $27KTop 10% $58K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -18.9%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−18.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −18.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 5005,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20255.9K
- Projected 20354.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 5.9K Projected 2035 4.8K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school72.8%
- High school16.4%
- Some college5.7%
- Associate's5.2%
Highest education held by cutters and trimmers, hand Segment Value Less than high school 72.8% High school 16.4% Some college 5.7% Associate's 5.2%
Also advertised as: Cloth Cutter, Denim Cutter, Fabric Cutter, Finisher, Glass Cutter, Hand Cutter.
Pay
How much do Cutters and Trimmers, Hand make?
Every cutter and trimmer, hand in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$38,020
Middle half earn $34,050 to $47,850
- 10th
- $26,630
- 25th
- $34,050
- 75th
- $47,850
- 90th
- $57,870
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $26,630 |
| 25th | $34,050 |
| Median | $38,020 |
| 75th | $47,850 |
| 90th | $57,870 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $38,020
- Median hourly wage
- $18.28/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $41,050
- People employed
- 6,060
Versus all US occupations
At $38,020, Cutters and Trimmers, Hand earn 25% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $12,960 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 21% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $57,870 or more while the bottom 10% earn $26,630, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 5% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Nebraska posts the highest raw median ($48,830), but once local prices are taken into account Iowa leads at $55,354 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Cutters and Trimmers, Hand the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Nebraska | $48,830 | $54,194 | 60 |
| 2Vermont | $48,670 | $49,685 | N/A |
| 3Iowa | $48,580 | $55,354 | N/A |
| 4Rhode Island | $48,100 | $47,028 | 50 |
| 5North Carolina | $47,910 | $50,792 | 1,060 |
| 6Michigan | $46,830 | $48,671 | 50 |
| 7Minnesota | $46,570 | $47,221 | 40 |
| 8New York | $46,190 | $42,800 | 220 |
| 9Indiana | $41,740 | $44,724 | 360 |
| 10Missouri | $40,560 | $44,661 | 110 |
Job outlook
Is Cutter and Trimmer, Hand a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -18.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | −18.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Cutters and Trimmers, Hand to change -18.9% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 1,100 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 500 openings are projected each year, 8.5% of the 5,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Cutter and Trimmer, Hand
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as cutters and trimmers, hand.
- Less than a High School Diploma72.8%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)16.4%
- Some College Courses5.7%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree5.2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 72.8% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 16.4% |
| Some College Courses | 5.7% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 5.2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Cutter and Trimmer, Hand do?
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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Cut, 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.
- Mark cutting lines around patterns or templates, or follow layout points, using squares, rules, and straightedges, and chalk, pencils, or scribes.
- Mark or discard items with defects such as spots, stains, scars, snags, chips, scratches, or unacceptable shapes or finishes.
- Position templates or measure materials to locate specified points of cuts or to obtain maximum yields, using rules, scales, or patterns.
- 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.
- Fold or shape materials before or after cutting them.
- Separate materials or products according to size, weight, type, condition, color, or shade.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening2.9
- Speaking2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Monitoring2.8
- Critical Thinking2.6
- Writing2.1
- Active Learning2.1
- Mathematics2.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 2.9 |
| Speaking | 2.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.6 |
| Writing | 2.1 |
| Active Learning | 2.1 |
| Mathematics | 2.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Time Management2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Judgment and Decision Making2.8
- Complex Problem Solving2.5
- Coordination2.3
- Service Orientation2.3
- Operations Monitoring2.3
- Operation and Control2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.5 |
| Coordination | 2.3 |
| Service Orientation | 2.3 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.3 |
| Operation and Control | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Cutter and Trimmer, Hand?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Cutter and Trimmer, Hand |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.2
- Conventional3.8
- Artistic2.2
- Investigative1.2
- Social1.1
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Cutter and Trimmer, Hand
O*NET related occupations
- Production
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
$46,570median a year
Most earn $36K to $61K
−0.9%High school - Production
Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand
$42,660median a year
Most earn $33K to $61K
−19.2%No formal credential - Production
- Production
Sawing Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Wood
$42,770median a year
Most earn $31K to $58K
−1.0%High school - Production
Woodworking Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Except Sawing
$43,380median a year
Most earn $32K to $57K
−2.5%High school - Production
Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
$38,760median a year
Most earn $29K to $49K
−13.6%High school
More production careers
Median annual pay, with cutters and trimmers, hand highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Cutter and Trimmer, Hand$38,020
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Cutter and Trimmer, Hand | $38,020 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Cutter and Trimmer, Hand appears on
Questions
Cutter and Trimmer, Hand: frequently asked questions
How much do Cutters and Trimmers, Hand make?
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand earn a median of $38,020 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 25% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $18.28/hr. The middle half earn between $34,050 and $47,850. The top 10% earn $57,870 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Cutter and Trimmer, Hand?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 72.8% hold less than a high school diploma.
Is Cutter and Trimmer, Hand a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 18.9% over 2025–2035, a loss of 1,100 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Cutter and Trimmer, Hand do?
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. A core O*NET task: cut, 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. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Cutters and Trimmers, Hand the most?
The highest state medians for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand are Nebraska ($48,830), Vermont ($48,670), Iowa ($48,580) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Iowa moves to the top at $55,354.
What personality type suits a Cutter and Trimmer, Hand?
O*NET scores Cutters and Trimmers, Hand highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.