Occupation

Cutters and Trimmers, Hand

Human Advantage 54%

Moderate human-AI collaboration

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
4.8 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

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.

Also Known As: Aluminum Sheet Cutter, Basting Puller, Belt Splicer, Bright Cutter, Bucker, Buttoner, Buttonhole Maker, Buttonhole Marker +106 more

Core Tasks

  1. Mark or discard items with defects such as spots, stains, scars, snags, chips, scratches, or unacceptable shapes or finishes.
  2. Trim excess material or cut threads off finished products, such as cutting loose ends of plastic off a manufactured toy for a smoother finish.
  3. 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.
  4. Position templates or measure materials to locate specified points of cuts or to obtain maximum yields, using rules, scales, or patterns.
  5. Read work orders to determine dimensions, cutting locations, and quantities to cut.
  6. Mark cutting lines around patterns or templates, or follow layout points, using squares, rules, and straightedges, and chalk, pencils, or scribes.
  7. Mark identification numbers, trademarks, grades, marketing data, sizes, or model numbers on products.
  8. Unroll, lay out, attach, or mount materials or items on cutting tables or machines.
  9. Separate materials or products according to size, weight, type, condition, color, or shade.
  10. Fold or shape materials before or after cutting them.
  11. Replace or sharpen dulled cutting tools such as saws.

Supplemental Tasks (7)

  1. Lower table-mounted cutters such as knife blades, cutting wheels, or saws to cut items to specified sizes.
  2. Stack cut items and load them on racks or conveyors or onto trucks.
  3. Adjust guides and stops to control depths and widths of cuts.
  4. Count or weigh and bundle items.
  5. Clean, treat, buff, or polish finished items, using grinders, brushes, chisels, and cleaning solutions and polishing materials.
  6. Route items to provide cutouts for parts, using portable routers, grinders, and hand tools.
  7. Transport items to work or storage areas, using carts.

Education & Training

Job Zone 1 Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed
Education: Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Experience: Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Less than a High School Diploma
73%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
16%
Some College Courses
6%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
5%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Word

Tools & Equipment (33)

  • Awl sets
  • Bolt cutters
  • Carpet cutters
  • Carpet knives
  • Carpet trimmers
  • Cordless cutters
  • Cordless tile saws
  • Cut-off saws
  • Flat cold chisels
  • Foam rubber cutter
  • Glass cutting tools
  • Hand planers
  • Handheld grinders
  • Handsaws
  • Heavy duty shears
  • Jab saws
  • Layout squares
  • Loop pile carpet cutters
  • Mini hacksaws
  • Multipurpose hammers
  • Power chippers
  • Razor knives
  • Rotary cutters
  • Rules
  • Stone hammers
  • Straightedges
  • Tack strip cutters
  • Tin snips
  • Tubing cutters
  • Utility knives
  • Utility saws
  • Wire cleaning brushes
  • Wire duct cutting tools

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Production & Automation Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 1
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand You are here
Zone 2
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 96% match
Zone 3
Model Makers, Wood 80% match
Zone 4
Biofuels Production Managers 76% match
Zone 5
Microsystems Engineers 74% match

Resume Builder

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Real Talk

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