Production
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
Also called: Cloth Cutter, Denim Cutter, Fabric Cutter, Finisher
US median pay
$38,020
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-18.9%
declining
Openings a year (US)
500
5,900 employed
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Separate materials or products according to size, weight, type, condition, color, or shade.
- Fold or shape materials before or after cutting them.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management2.9/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.5/5
- Service Orientation2.2/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.2/5
- Operations Monitoring2.2/5
- Operation and Control2.2/5
Knowledge
- Production and Processing3.2/5
- Mathematics2.4/5
- English Language2.2/5
- Public Safety and Security2.1/5
- Computers and Electronics1.9/5
- Administration and Management1.9/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): No formal educational credential.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Less than high school73%
- High school diploma16%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.