Textile Cutting Machine Operator
Spread and cut fabric into pattern pieces for sewing.
- $38,760
- A few months on the job
Mechanics, Maintenance & Manufacturing career
Hand Cutter
Also called: Hand Trimmer · Cutter and Trimmer · Leather Cutter · Finishing Cutter
What hand cutters do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a hand cutter do?
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. The median pay is $38,020 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about A few weeks on the job, and employment is projected to grow -18.9% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$38,020$18.28/hour · May 2025
- Job growth-18.9%2025–35, a projected decline
- Openings per year500Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationNo formal educational credentialBLS classification
- Time to trainA few weeks on the jobTypical program length
- U.S. jobs5,900Employment, 2025
What hand cutters do
Hand cutters trim products to finished shape. They cut carpet, fabric, rubber, foam, leather and gaskets by hand, trim excess material from molded parts and check for clean edges.
No formal education is required, and training is short. BLS projects a steep decline.
Typical duties
- Cut materials by hand
- Trim molded parts
- Follow templates
- Measure pieces
- Inspect edges
- Sharpen tools
- Sort and pack
Work environment and schedule
Hand cutters work in plants making rubber, foam, carpet and sewn products.
Schedule: Full time, day shifts.
A day in the life
- Sharpen knives.
- Trim flash from rubber parts.
- Cut foam to templates.
- Measure pieces.
See a full day in the life of a hand cutter →
Hand Cutter salary
Half of hand cutters earned more than $38,020 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $26,630 for the lowest 10% to $57,870 for the top 10%.
Full hand cutter pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a hand cutter
- Apply to a plant
- Complete safety training
- Learn cuts
- Build speed
- Advance
No formal educational credential is required.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a hand cutter →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Knife skills
- Template cutting
- Measurement
- Trimming
- Tool sharpening
People skills
- Attention to detail
- Steadiness
- Reliability
- Focus
All hand cutter skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- No degree needed
- Short training
- Steady pace
- Simple tasks
Cons
- Steep decline
- Repetitive
- Cut hazards
- Low pay
Certifications and licenses
- Knife safety training: Employer.
- OSHA 10: Safety.
- Quality training: Employer.
- Forklift certification: Helpful.
Career path
- Cutter: Entry.
- Senior Cutter: Complex work.
- Inspector: Quality.
- Lead: Lead.
Learn the job before day one
Our Hand Cutter training (6 hours, $59.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as trim flash from a molded part and cut material to a template, safety and how to land your first job.
Related careers
Slicing Machine Operator
Run machines that cut and slice food, paper, film and other materials.
- $46,570
- A few months on the job
Production Assembler
Put together products and components on factory lines, following precise instructions.
- $44,650
- 1 day to 1 month on the job
Hand Sewer
Sew by hand to finish garments, upholstery and specialty products.
- $36,480
- Months of practice
Compare: Hand Cutter vs. Textile Cutting Machine Operator · Hand Cutter vs. Slicing Machine Operator · Hand Cutter vs. Production Assembler · Hand Cutter vs. Hand Sewer
Hand Cutter FAQ
Do I need experience?
No.
Is the job declining?
BLS projects a steep decline.
What materials are cut?
Rubber, foam, carpet, fabric and gaskets.
How much does a hand cutter make?
The median annual wage for hand cutters was $38,020 ($18.28 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $26,630 and the highest 10% earned more than $57,870.
How long does it take to become a hand cutter?
Most people need about A few weeks on the job of training. No formal educational credential is required.
Do you need a degree to be a hand cutter?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “no formal educational credential” as the typical entry-level education, plus short-term on-the-job training.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 51-9031 (Cutters and trimmers, hand).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Cutters and trimmers, hand (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.