Cutters and trimmers, hand salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $26,630 | $12.80 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Mean (average) | $41,050 | $19.74 |
| 90th percentile | $57,870 | $27.82 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Cutters and trimmers, hand pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 30 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $35,160 | $23,620 | $45,430 | ||
| Arizona | $31,110 | $30,580 | $43,720 | ||
| California | $37,840 | $34,710 | $61,190 | 770 | 1.09 |
| Connecticut | $35,970 | $35,970 | $49,260 | 50 | 0.74 |
| Florida | $35,150 | $27,040 | $78,920 | 150 | 0.38 |
| Georgia | $37,480 | $22,920 | $87,150 | 290 | 1.53 |
| Illinois | $35,360 | $33,830 | $51,680 | 30 | 0.14 |
| Indiana | $41,740 | $22,260 | $58,430 | 360 | 2.91 |
| Iowa | $48,580 | $46,030 | $50,370 | ||
| Kansas | $38,800 | $34,360 | $45,670 | 130 | 2.39 |
| Massachusetts | $39,970 | $32,210 | $58,400 | 110 | 0.8 |
| Michigan | $46,830 | $34,470 | $49,280 | 50 | 0.3 |
| Minnesota | $46,570 | $37,330 | $51,100 | 40 | 0.33 |
| Mississippi | $37,280 | $30,670 | $45,130 | 90 | 2.09 |
| Missouri | $40,560 | $35,230 | $50,510 | 110 | 0.96 |
| Nebraska | $48,830 | $34,040 | $58,060 | 60 | 1.61 |
| New Jersey | $34,600 | $32,220 | $51,520 | 380 | 2.26 |
| New York | $46,190 | $33,790 | $63,650 | 220 | 0.57 |
| North Carolina | $47,910 | $33,330 | $60,070 | 1,060 | 5.51 |
| Ohio | $35,360 | $23,190 | $48,250 | 120 | 0.56 |
| Oklahoma | $34,910 | $30,890 | $38,650 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $35,560 | $26,280 | $44,160 | 140 | 0.59 |
| Rhode Island | $48,100 | $31,200 | $48,100 | 50 | 2.39 |
| South Carolina | $39,340 | $28,990 | $61,570 | 50 | 0.58 |
| Tennessee | $27,030 | $19,120 | $45,560 | 230 | 1.81 |
| Texas | $29,130 | $24,410 | $37,790 | 740 | 1.35 |
| Vermont | $48,670 | $37,560 | $65,930 | ||
| Virginia | $32,470 | $29,430 | $42,830 | 60 | 0.36 |
| Washington | $35,960 | $34,650 | $47,310 | ||
| Wisconsin | $39,010 | $31,280 | $44,700 | 60 | 0.48 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for cutters and trimmers, hand
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for cutters and trimmers, hand
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- 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.
- Position templates or measure materials to locate specified points of cuts or to obtain maximum yields, using rules, scales, or patterns.
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Cloth Cutter, Denim Cutter, Fabric Cutter, Finisher, Glass Cutter, Hand Cutter, Leather Cutter, Offline Cutter, Sample Cutter, Trimmer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cutters and trimmers, hand make?
The national median annual wage for cutters and trimmers, hand was $38,020 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $26,630 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $57,870. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do cutters and trimmers, hand need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is cutters and trimmers, hand a growing career?
BLS projects employment of cutters and trimmers, hand to change -18.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay cutters and trimmers, hand the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Nebraska ($48,830), Vermont ($48,670), Iowa ($48,580). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.