What Does it Take to Be a Hand Cutter or Trimmer?
Career Description 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.
List of Hand Cutter or Trimmer Job Duties
- Stack cut items and load them on racks or conveyors or onto trucks.
- Count or weigh and bundle items.
- Mark identification numbers, trademarks, grades, marketing data, sizes, or model numbers on products.
- 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 or discard items with defects such as spots, stains, scars, snags, chips, scratches, or unacceptable shapes or finishes.
- Adjust guides and stops to control depths and widths of cuts.
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Things a Hand Cutter or Trimmer Should Know How to Do
When polled, Hand Cutters and Trimmers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Other Hand Cutter or Trimmer Job Titles
- Hot Knife Foxing Cutter
- Oval or Circular Glass Cutter
- Hairspring Cutter
- Pompom Maker
- Rug Clipper
Job Outlook for Hand Cutters and Trimmers
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 14,700 jobs in the United States for Hand Cutter or Trimmer. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Hand Cutter or Trimmer. There will be an estimated 1,400 positions for Hand Cutter or Trimmer per year.

The states with the most job growth for Hand Cutter or Trimmer are Utah, Arizona, and Nebraska. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, New York, or Hawaii. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Hand Cutter or Trimmer Make?
The salary for Hand Cutters and Trimmers ranges between about $20,740 and $46,790 a year.

Hand Cutters and Trimmers who work in Hawaii, New Mexico, or North Carolina, make the highest salaries.
How much do Hand Cutters and Trimmers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $26,540 |
Arizona | $31,720 |
California | $31,940 |
Colorado | $30,920 |
Florida | $31,120 |
Georgia | $30,970 |
Hawaii | $40,350 |
Idaho | $33,940 |
Illinois | $30,480 |
Indiana | $29,810 |
Iowa | $32,340 |
Kansas | $32,100 |
Kentucky | $26,740 |
Louisiana | $28,780 |
Maine | $30,200 |
Massachusetts | $31,800 |
Michigan | $30,680 |
Minnesota | $33,090 |
Mississippi | $32,320 |
Missouri | $32,460 |
Nebraska | $33,030 |
Nevada | $22,830 |
New Hampshire | $26,540 |
New Jersey | $25,680 |
New Mexico | $34,950 |
New York | $41,310 |
North Carolina | $36,710 |
Ohio | $27,230 |
Oklahoma | $29,770 |
Oregon | $32,890 |
Pennsylvania | $24,990 |
South Carolina | $28,070 |
Tennessee | $33,200 |
Texas | $28,370 |
Utah | $36,000 |
Vermont | $37,110 |
Virginia | $29,480 |
Washington | $30,510 |
West Virginia | $29,160 |
Wisconsin | $29,740 |
What Tools & Technology do Hand Cutters and Trimmers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Hand Cutters and Trimmers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Outlook
Becoming a Hand Cutter or Trimmer
Individuals working as a Hand Cutter or Trimmer have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become a Hand Cutter or Trimmer?

Who Employs Hand Cutters and Trimmers?

Below are examples of industries where Hand Cutters and Trimmers work:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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