How much does a hand cutter make?
Answer: A typical hand cutter in the United States makes $38,020 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 6,000 people work in this job. Below the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Hand cutter pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $26,630 | $38,020 | $57,870 | about 6,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $47,910 | about 1,000 |
| California | $37,840 | about 770 |
| Texas | $29,130 | about 740 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience and useful skills can help hand cutters earn more. Pay also varies by employer industry and location, and more complex or responsible tasks may pay differently.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a hand cutter do?
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's a typical day like?
You use scissors, a knife, or a handheld power tool to cut fabric, glass, stone, or other materials to size. Then you check pieces for flaws and trim loose threads or extra bits so the product looks finished.
How to get this job
In the United States, a high-school diploma or GED can help, though some jobs require less education. Many people can start with little or no experience and learn on the job; training can last from a few days to a year.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
A hand cutter may finish a toy by snipping off extra plastic edges—so this job can involve toy finishing, not just fabric.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Production jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-9031.00
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/51-9031.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes519031.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY