Human edge, steady

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.

AI Resistance Index 35 of 99

Changing faster than most: more resilient than 35% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is very low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it low), and US jobs are projected to change by -18.9% by 2035, expected to shrink. The work leans on physical dexterity.

AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.

Median pay (2025): $38,020
Job growth to 2035: -18.9%
Openings a year: 500
People doing it (2025): 5,900
Usual route in: No formal credential, then short on-the-job training

Open the full picture Ask Mr Thoob about it

Where people already use AI for this work

Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment
Read documents or materials to inform work processes
Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Cut materials
Mark materials or objects for identification
Position workpieces or materials on equipment

What the work looks like

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.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

Fewer of these jobs, as the improved integration of design systems and cutting equipment improve precision of cuts which reduces the need for hand cutters and trimmers.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Laundry and dry-cleaning workersHuman edge, growing, Index 83, +4.3%
Pressers, textile, garment, and related materialsHuman edge, steady, Index 41, -15.7%
Pourers and casters, metalHuman edge, steady, Index 48, -5.0%
TapersHuman edge, steady, Index 38, -1.6%

Also known as: Cloth Cutter, Leather Cutter, Offline Cutter, Trimmer, Denim Cutter, Fabric Cutter, Finisher, Glass Cutter.

Is this career on your child's list?

Build a free Career Playbook matched to your child, or get a 90-day Action Plan with dated next steps, written for your child by name.

Build a free Playbook See the plans

Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.