How much does a cutting operator make?
a year · about $22 an hour
A typical cutting operator in the United States makes $46,570 a year, about $22 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They read a work order, set blade position and speed, feed in paper, food, glass, or other material, and watch the machine cut. They measure pieces for accuracy, adjust settings if needed, then stack and sort the finished material.
Did you know? In the US, workers under 18 cannot legally operate powered food slicers or meat grinders in non-farm jobs.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $35,930 and $61,120How do you become one?
In the US, a high-school diploma or GED is common, though some jobs accept less schooling. Most learn on the job, with training ranging from a few days to a year; college is usually not needed.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the US, experience, useful skills, and credentials can affect pay. It also differs by factory industry and location, and jobs with more complex setups or responsibility may pay more.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Minnesota ($58,260), lowest in Oklahoma ($37,910).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $35,930 | $46,570 | $61,120 | about 45,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $58,260 | about 1,000 |
| Colorado | $51,750 | about 700 |
| Oregon | $51,180 | about 990 |
| Missouri | $50,930 | about 1,000 |
| Washington | $50,430 | about 760 |
Official definition: Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material. Excludes “Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic” (51-4031), “Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” (51-6062), and “Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” (51-7040).
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/details/51-9032.00
- www.onetonline.org/skills/zone/51-9032.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes519032.htm
- www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA3794.pdf
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY