Loading page content
In the United States, cutters and trimmers, hand, correspond to O*NET-SOC 51-9031.00 (Cutters and Trimmers, Hand), using hand tools or hand-held power tools to cut and trim finished products such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass and rubber: reading the work order to determine dimensions, cutting positions and quantities, positioning to template or measuring tool and marking on the material; cutting to order and profiling with hand cutting tools, shears, hand-held power tools or bench cutting equipment; separating materials by size, weight, type, colour or colour difference, and folding or shaping before and after cutting; trimming excess material and loose threads and pressing bench cutting tools down to the specified specification; adjusting guides and stops to control cutting depth and width; replacing or sharpening blunt tools and blades; sanding, polishing, cleaning and marking the finished item, and counting or weighing before bundling, stacking and moving to the next process. The preparation level for this occupation is Job Zone 1-2 (little to some preparation, SVP below 6.0), typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent with some positions requiring none, and on-the-job training ranging from a few days to a year. Comparable positions in China are manual cutting, trimming and sanding positions in manufacturing and processing enterprises; their duties and pay basis do not correspond one-to-one with this U.S. occupational subcategory and cannot be interchanged.
Worth trying first: willing to stand for long periods at a fixed workstation, measure and mark repeatedly and cut by hand according to work orders and templates, able to accept repetitive motions and dimensional tolerance requirements, willing to wear protective equipment as specified, maintain cutting tools and pick out defective items against inspection standards, and willing to stop and report upward when a tool behaves abnormally, material is defective or a part is out of tolerance.
Consider carefully: if you find it hard to stand for long periods and repeat the same motions, are sensitive to dusty and noisy environments, are unwilling to verify strictly against dimensions and templates, or find repeated inspection and packing tedious, the actual work will differ from your expectations.
Hand cutters and trimmers work with manufactured materials that need cutting and trimming, including carpet, fabric, stone, glass and rubber, along with work orders, templates, measuring tools and inspection standards; the outputs are pieces and finished items that meet dimensional and appearance specifications, defect markings and inspection results, counting, weighing and packing records, and tool and equipment maintenance records; the basis for handling is work order dimensions and tolerances, template and measuring tool readings, position work instructions, safety and protection procedures, and the employer's inspection and escalation paths — not the job title.
Judgment two: Are the template and the marking accurate?
Judgment one: Have the work order dimensions and quantities been read correctly?
Use hand tools and hand-held power tools to grind, polish and correct workpiece surfaces to meet surface requirements.
Feed machines or remove machined parts from machines, maintaining takt and work-in-progress flow.
Operate textile cutting machines to cut pieces in batches to patterns and marker plans, controlling the number of layers and the piece specifications.
Refers to the extent to which a task can be performed or assisted by existing technology; it does not indicate whether the employer adopts it, nor does it indicate changes in headcount or wages.
The table below lists tool-assist candidates to be verified across seven real tasks; this page has no trial implementation or confirmation that an employer has adopted them, and the candidate capabilities are not written up as existing evidence of change.
Organizational adoption means a specific enterprise actually deploying and using a tool. Equipment acceptance, training, process records and division of labour must be checked; this page did not obtain an adoption sample for this occupation and cannot judge whether adoption is typically slower than capability or prevalence.
Insufficient evidence: this round did not obtain a mainland China occupational wage distribution matching the task scope of 51-9031.00. The National Bureau of Statistics 2025 wage release was checked, and the manufacturing average serves only as industry background, so it cannot be asserted that all official bodies have never published occupational data.
What can be verified are the materials, processes and equipment of manual cutting and trimming; whether the work falls under manufacturing, trading and processing or another industry depends on the employer's actual statistical classification, not the position title.
U.S. statistical basis: the wages and percentiles on this page are values published on O*NET/OEWS under 51-9031.00 (Cutters and Trimmers, Hand)'s own basis, not a proxy for an adjacent occupation or another subcategory; employment size and employment projections likewise follow that subcategory's basis (based on BLS 2025—2035 projections).
Wage percentiles are statistical positions; this round has no causal decomposition by industry, area or seniority, so a high percentile cannot be attributed to experience, skill or a particular industry.
First verify observable conditions: reading dimensions and templates, checking against tolerances, the actual duration of standing and repetitive motions, tool safety and anomaly reporting. There is no evidence that personality or self-described "steady hands and patience" predicts competence or hiring.
Editorial self-observation suggestion: within actual tasks and authorization conditions, record dimensional and quality performance and omissions during repeated measuring, cutting and verification, and check this against outcome feedback; do not treat your attitude toward repetitive tasks as a necessary condition for staying correct.
Editorial self-observation suggestion: following the unit's actual first-piece and sampling arrangements, record the issues raised by inspection and the subsequent handling results; do not treat your attitude toward inspection as a necessary condition for continuous improvement.
Where equipment tool changes, cleaning or clearing jams are involved, first handle hazardous energy according to equipment and employer procedures by trained and authorized personnel: stop the run, isolate the relevant energy, control stored energy and verify the safe state; pressing a stop button alone is not isolation. U.S. 1910.147 applies only within its own conditions of applicability, and exceptions must meet specific conditions; operations in China follow local rules and equipment procedures and cannot copy U.S. provisions. Applicable machine guards must be maintained in daily production; personal protective equipment and hand tools do not replace guards.
Editorial check suggestion: verify the dust extraction, noise reduction, ventilation and labour protection equipment arrangements against the actual material, equipment and unit procedures, and use the protective equipment provided by the unit correctly; report discomfort through the unit's channels and seek professional help, as the specific control plan and health effects were not obtained.
This page does not cite specific job postings and does not count historical recruitment cases as open positions; recruitment and qualification conditions must be verified against the target employer's public information for the current year.
The training, observation and mentoring assessment methods in the examples are editorial designs, used to illustrate common verification approaches and not representing any employer's unified process.
Demand signals should be checked in layers: official projections describe the occupation total; this round has no Chinese sample of orders, product mix or automation investment, so the target employer's processes and actual open positions must be checked separately.
U.S. 51-9031 own basis: about 5,900 people employed in 2025; BLS projects a decrease of about 1,100, or 19%, over 2025—2035. O*NET classifies it as Decline (-1% or lower), with an annual average of about 500 openings including growth and replacement; a net decrease and replacement openings can exist at the same time, and this is not an individual probability of being hired nor proof of an AI causal effect.
Use hand tools or hand-held power tools to cut and trim finished products such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass and rubber: read the work order to determine dimensions, cutting positions and quantities; position using templates or measuring tools and mark cutting lines on the material; cut, form and trim the material with hand tools, shears, hand-held power tools or bench cutting equipment; adjust guides and stops to control cutting depth and width; separate materials by size, weight, type, condition, colour or colour difference; fold or shape before and after cutting; remove excess material and loose threads and press bench cutting tools down to the specified specification; replace or sharpen blunt tools and blades; sand, polish, clean and mark the finished item (number, trademark, grade, size or model); pick out and mark defects such as spots, stains, scratches, chipped corners and unacceptable shapes; and count or weigh before bundling, stacking and moving to the next process or storage area by cart.
This occupation mainly cuts, trims and sands finished products by hand and with hand-held tools to work orders and templates and must be responsible for the dimensions and appearance of the parts it processes; cutting and slicing machine setters, operators and tenders centre on fixed machine setup and batch monitoring; cutting, punching and press machine setters, operators and tenders, metal and plastic, centre on punching dies and metal and plastic sheet processing; grinding and polishing workers, hand, centre on surface treatment and are not responsible for cutting to size; machine feeders and offbearers are only responsible for feeding the line and do not set process parameters or inspection results; textile cutting machine setters, operators and tenders centre on pattern marking and multilayer cutting; molders, shapers and casters, except metal and plastic, centre on forming and casting to change the form of the material. Similar names do not mean duties or equipment operation requirements can be swapped.
The core output is finished parts that meet specification and can be verified, together with records: pieces cut to dimensions and templates, finished items trimmed and sanded properly, inspection and defect marking records, counting or weighing and bundling results, and tool and equipment maintenance records — not "how many cuts you made".
Low-risk validation: using safe materials such as cardboard, fabric or foam, complete one exercise — "read the dimensions from a fictional work order — mark and position using a template — cut along the line — measure to check whether the tolerance is exceeded — pick out and mark defects — count and pack" — this only assesses work preferences; the exercise uses no dangerous equipment other than cutting tools and does not involve real production orders or client data, and is not equivalent to employer hiring or authorization to work.
Judgment focus: whether, under the constraints of work order dimensions, template tolerances and safety procedures, you can turn measuring and marking, cutting and profiling, trimming and sanding, and inspection and packing into finished items and records that are verifiable, transferable and traceable.
Work pace is determined by order batch size and delivery dates, material type and thickness, and the frequency of die and template changes; across settings such as manufacturing lines, manual workshops and processing shops, product types, equipment and inspection standards differ markedly.
Similar job titles among adjacent occupations do not mean the same duties; when comparing, first look at whether the focus is manual cutting and trimming, cutting and slicing machine operation, metal punching and shearing equipment operation, hand grinding and polishing, or machine feeding and offbearing, and whether the role carries equipment operation, die adjustment or quality release responsibility.
Work orders, templates, measuring tools and inspection standards may be treated as inputs that must be followed, but you must not skip measuring and first-piece verification based on experience, nor substitute visual judgment for the required checks on dimensions, burrs, scratches and colour differences.
A fit assessment should be checked against real work observation, mentoring feedback and your own condition; it cannot be replaced by an interest type or a single test.
All paper exercises on this page use fictional materials; in real production, tool and equipment operation, personal protection, dust and noise protection, and material and finished goods inspection must follow safety procedures, position work instructions and employer policies.
Advance according to work orders and batches: after taking over a shift, first verify the pending work orders, whether materials and templates are complete, tool condition and the condition of equipment and safety devices,
Judgment three: Are the cutting and profiling within tolerance?
Collaboration and reporting relationships | Collaborate with workers in the same process, inspectors, team leaders and equipment maintenance within the scope of authority,
Across settings such as manufacturing lines, manual workshops and processing shops, product types, equipment and inspection standards differ markedly, and no blanket conclusion can be drawn from the occupation title.
Judgment six: Have you stopped the machine and escalated when something was abnormal?
The work of hand cutters and trimmers can be divided into three connected but distinct work areas. The first is cutting to work order and profiling: reading the work order to determine dimensions, cutting positions and quantities, positioning and marking on the material using templates, measuring tools or a straightedge; cutting and profiling with hand tools, shears, hand-held power tools or bench cutting equipment; cutting openings or notches as needed; and adjusting guides and stops to control cutting depth and width. The second is trimming and sanding: removing excess edge material and loose threads, pressing bench cutting tools down to the specified specification, folding or shaping the material before and after cutting, replacing or sharpening blunt tools and blades, and then using grinding wheels, brushes and cleaning and polishing materials to sand, polish and clean the finished item. The third is inspection and packing: picking out defects such as spots, stains, scratches, chipped corners and unacceptable shapes and marking them for scrap; separating and grading by size, weight, type, condition, colour or colour difference; marking the finished item with a number, trademark, grade, size or model; counting or weighing and then bundling and stacking; and using a cart to move the pieces to the next process or the storage area. The three work areas alternate, but their basis, tolerances and risks differ; so do the materials, equipment and inspection standards across settings such as line production, small order batches and manual workshops.
Cutting to order and profiling
Read the work order dimensions and quantities → position using a template or measuring tool → mark the cutting line on the material → cut with hand or bench tools → profile or cut openings as needed → adjust the guides and stops
Pieces cut to work order and template, marking and positioning records
Press the bench cutting tool down to the specified specification → remove edge material and loose threads → fold or shape → replace or sharpen the tool → sand and polish → clean the finished item
Finished items trimmed and sanded properly, tool replacement and maintenance records
Pick out and mark defects → separate and grade by size, weight and colour → mark the number and size → count or weigh → bundle and stack → move to the next process by cart
Where are the boundaries between hand cutters and trimmers and adjacent machine cutting, hand grinding and feeding positions?
When comparing manual cutting and trimming, machine cutting and slicing, hand grinding and polishing, machine feeding and offbearing, and textile cutting, verify by the main tasks and the mode of equipment operation. The tasks overlap: this occupation also lists bench tools and guide adjustment, and feeders also inspect and record; it cannot be inferred from the names that there is no inspection, no equipment adjustment, or final release authority.
Use hand tools or hand-held power tools to cut, trim and sand finished products such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass and rubber to work order and template, so that dimensions and appearance meet specification.
Core purposes of adjacent occupations: cutting and slicing machine setters, operators and tenders set up and tend cutting or slicing machines to complete batch cutting; grinding and polishing workers, hand, use hand tools and hand-held power tools to grind and polish workpiece surfaces; machine feeders and offbearers feed machines or remove machined parts from them; textile cutting machine setters, operators and tenders operate textile cutting machines to cut pieces in batches to patterns.
Manufactured materials that need cutting and trimming, work order dimensions and tolerances, templates and measuring tools; the basis is work instructions, inspection standards, safety and protection procedures, and the employer's review and escalation paths.
Adjacent objects: cutting and slicing equipment and work order settings (51-9032), parts awaiting grinding and polishing and surface requirements (51-9022), machine feeding and offbearing and material state (53-7063), multilayer fabric and templates and cutting equipment (51-6062); these tasks overlap with manual handling and inspection.
Read the work order → measure and mark → cut and profile → trim and sand → inspect and mark → count, pack and move.
Processes of adjacent occupations: clamp the material and set machine parameters and then tend the run (cutting and slicing machine setters, operators and tenders), grind and polish piece by piece to the surface requirements (grinding and polishing workers, hand), feed the machine or remove finished items to the takt (machine feeders and offbearers), and cut multiple pieces at once on a cutting machine to a pattern (textile cutting machine setters, operators and tenders).
Pieces and finished items that meet specification, defect markings and inspection results, counting, weighing and packing records, tool and equipment maintenance records.
Outputs of adjacent occupations: batches of cut pieces and machine parameter records (cutting and slicing machine setters, operators and tenders), polished parts that meet surface requirements (grinding and polishing workers, hand), stable work-in-progress flow and loading/unloading records (machine feeders and offbearers), and pattern-cut pieces and marker records (textile cutting machine setters, operators and tenders).
Staff in this occupation are responsible for the dimensions, appearance and inspection results of the parts they process; tool replacement, equipment maintenance and stopping the line to report an out-of-tolerance condition must follow the work instructions and employer procedures, not their unilateral decision.
Editorial check suggestion: verify the actual position responsible for each item of machine parameters, processing quality, material state and cut piece specifications; occupational profiles list tasks and cannot be used to infer an individual's final release, safety sign-off or modification authority.
Collaboration and supervision
Collaborate with workers in the same process, inspectors, team leaders and equipment maintenance within the scope of authority, and report to a supervisor or along the review path; when a tool behaves abnormally, material is defective, equipment fails or a part is out of tolerance, stop processing and report, refer and keep records according to procedure.
Collaboration of adjacent occupations: cutting and slicing machine operators collaborate with setup and inspection staff; grinding and polishing workers collaborate with inspection and the next process; machine feeders and offbearers collaborate with machine operators; textile cutting machine operators collaborate with pattern-making and sewing processes.
Similar names do not mean the same duties; hand-held and bench tools overlap, so equipment setup, dies, material flow, inspection and maintenance authority must be verified against the actual position, and final release authority cannot be inferred from the occupation title.
The preparation levels and equipment operation requirements of adjacent occupations do not apply to this occupation; verify them item by item against each occupation's official materials and the requirements of the position.
Key occupational judgments
Six recurring professional judgments: whether the work order dimensions, quantities and cutting positions are read correctly; whether the template and measuring tool positioning is accurate and the marking clear; whether the cutting and profiling are within tolerance and the guides and stops are set correctly; whether excess material, loose threads and burrs are removed cleanly and the sanding and polishing meet the surface requirements; whether defects are picked out and marked truthfully and the separation and grading match the inspection standards; and whether, when a tool behaves abnormally, material is defective, equipment fails or a part is out of tolerance, the machine is stopped, the item isolated and the matter escalated first.
Determine the dimensions, cutting positions and quantities from the work order and verify the material and batch; misreading leads to a whole batch of pieces being scrapped or excess consumption.
Position using templates, measuring tools and a straightedge and mark the cutting line clearly on the material; positioning deviation goes straight into the cut result.
Cut and profile to specification and adjust the guides and stops; exceeding tolerance causes rework, scrap and assembly problems.
Remove excess material and loose threads cleanly, press the tool down to the specified dimension and sand and polish to the surface requirements; an unacceptable surface affects the appearance and acceptance of the finished item.
Judgment four: Do the trimming and sanding meet the requirements?
Pick out defects such as spots, scratches and chipped corners against the inspection standards and mark, separate and grade them truthfully; missed defects flow into the next process and trigger complaints.
Judgment five: Are the defects and grading consistent?
When a tool behaves abnormally, material is defective, equipment fails or a part is out of tolerance, stop the machine, isolate the item and report upward according to procedure, keeping records.
Cutting preparation | Read the work order and position | Read the work order to determine dimensions, cutting positions and quantities, position and mark on the material using templates, measuring tools or a straightedge, and spread out or secure the material on the cutting table and equipment when necessary.
Cutting and profiling | Cut with tools and equipment | Cut, form and trim the material with hand tools, shears, hand-held power tools or bench cutting equipment, cut openings or notches as needed, and adjust guides and stops to control cutting depth and width.
Trimming and shaping | Trim excess material and shape | Trim excess material and loose threads, press the bench cutting tool down to the specified specification, fold or shape the material before and after cutting, and separate different materials.
Tool maintenance | The profile lists replacing or sharpening blunt tools, to be performed only when training, permissions and safety procedures allow. Where equipment tool changes, cleaning or clearing jams are involved, first handle hazardous energy according to equipment and employer procedures by trained and authorized personnel: stop the run, isolate the relevant energy, control stored energy and verify the safe state; pressing a stop button alone is not isolation. U.S. 1910.147 applies only within its own conditions of applicability, and exceptions must meet specific conditions; operations in China follow local rules and equipment procedures and cannot copy U.S. provisions.
Sanding and surface | Sand, polish and clean | Use grinding wheels, brushes, chisels, cleaning agents and polishing materials to clean, treat, sand and polish the finished item, and mark it with a number, trademark, grade, size or model.
Inspection and packing | Inspect, pack and move | Pick out defects such as spots, stains, scratches, chipped corners and unacceptable shapes and mark them, separate and grade by size, weight, type, condition, colour or colour difference, and count or weigh before bundling, stacking and moving by cart.
Work context and working conditions
U.S. respondent work context indicates prolonged standing and repetitive hand operations; different materials, tools and workstations involve different exposures, and not all positions can be generalized as daily contact with dust and noise.
Among O*NET respondents, 91% reported working indoors under controlled environmental conditions every day and 80% reported standing continually or almost continually. A further 28% reported daily contact with contaminants (including gases, dust and odours) and 22% daily contact with distracting or uncomfortable noise; the corresponding frequencies are not exposure doses, exceedances of hazard limits or disease rates.
The objects are finished products such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass and rubber; the task profile also lists food ingredients and metal. Hand tools, hand-held power tools or some bench tools may be used, and the occupation must not be merged into the 51-9032 machine cutting occupation merely because of bench equipment. Measuring tools, templates, abrasives and handling methods are verified against the actual process; Excel, Outlook and Word are listed only on the hot technology posting text page and do not prove on-site use.
Then measure and mark in order, cut and profile, trim and sand, inspect and mark, and after counting or weighing bundle, stack and hand over to the next process; before handover, organize unfinished pieces and pending items and hand over according to procedure; when a tool behaves abnormally, material is defective, equipment fails or a part is out of tolerance, stop processing and report upward according to procedure.
Among O*NET respondents, 96% reported a typical 40-hour week, 80% standing continually or almost continually, 43% repetitive motions continually or almost continually (a further 35% more than half the time), and 20% facing strict deadlines once or more a week but not every day. Each item is the distribution of a different question and cannot be used to derive Chinese working hours or peak-season overtime rates.
Report to a supervisor or along the review path; current O*NET profile (51-9031.00; page updated 2026, not a unified survey year): 56% rated "continual contact with others" as the highest level, 22% rated collaboration with a team as extremely important and 36% rated coordinating or leading others as extremely important, 39% described their freedom in determining tasks and priorities as very great, and 38% described decision freedom as "some".
The profile supports tasks of dimensions, defects, tools and marking; first-piece checks, sampling, records, out-of-tolerance isolation and reporting paths are verification suggestions designed for this page from the tasks and are determined by employer procedures, not a system directly prescribed by the O*NET survey.
O*NET currently lists 12 work styles, the higher ones being attention to detail 80, dependability 67 and caution 59; these are Impact scores, not population percentages or personality test thresholds. Actual safety measures are determined by material, equipment and risk assessment; work context cannot replace a health assessment.
Professional basis and boundaries of use
Tasks, work activities, ability and work context percentages, preparation level (Job Zone 1-2), interest code RC and work styles for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand (51-9031.00)
U.S. 51-9031 own basis: about 5,900 people employed in 2025; BLS projects a decrease of about 1,100, or 19%, over 2025—2035. O*NET classifies it as Decline (-1% or lower), with an annual average of about 500 openings including growth and replacement; a net decrease and replacement openings can exist at the same time, and this is not an individual probability of being hired nor proof of an AI causal effect.
Main 2025 industries: manufacturing 65%, administrative and support services 13% (U.S. 51-9031 own basis). The education feedback is an opinion on the education required, not the composition of employees; the preparation level Job Zone 1–2 is a general preparation range.
For mainland China, only matching process descriptions of manual cutting, edge trimming and finishing work are used; no occupation-level wage mapping one-to-one to 51-9031 was verified. Safety training and protection are verified against the specific provisions of the Work Safety Law and position procedures.
The 2025 urban unit pre-tax annual average wage in manufacturing serves only as industry background; this occupation's wages, recruitment percentiles and causal evidence on AI and income remain insufficient.
U.S. O*NET-SOC51-9031.00 (Cutters and Trimmers, Hand) use hand tools and hand-held power tools to cut and trim finished products such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass and rubber, and the tasks also include some bench tools, guide adjustment, defect marking, material grading, counting and packing, and tool sharpening. Its wages and employment are published under this occupation's own basis, not a parent-occupation proxy. U.S. BLS typical entry requires no formal educational credential, no related experience and short-term on-the-job training; O*NET73/16/6 is respondents' opinion on the education required, not the composition of employees, and Job Zone1–2 general training range is not a unified duration for this occupation. Chinese positions must be matched by specific material, process and equipment authority, and U.S. education, wages or licensing cannot be applied. Adjacent tasks such as machine cutting, hand grinding and feeding overlap, and the boundary should be verified by the main duties.
Use dies, hand tools or machines to form non-metallic materials into products of a specified shape.
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (adjacent occupation, 51-9032.00)
Set up and tend cutting or slicing machines to cut material continuously into slices, blocks or strips to specification, monitoring the run and the output.
The difference is that the core is a fixed machine and batch parameters, and the objects are the machine's cutting tools and feed; this occupation centers on cutting and trimming with hand and hand-held tools, with machines being only one kind of tool.
Better suited to people who want to do machine setup and batch monitoring.
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (adjacent occupation, 51-4031.00)
Set up and operate punching, shearing or press equipment to punch, cut and form metal or plastic.
The difference is that the objects are metal and plastic sheet and forming relies on punching dies; this occupation mostly works with finished products such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass and rubber.
Better suited to people who want to work with punching dies and metal processing.
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand (adjacent occupation, 51-9022.00)
The difference is that the core is surface treatment and the role is not responsible for cutting to size and profiling; this occupation centers on cutting to size and trimming, with sanding only a finishing step.
Better suited to people who want to specialize in surface sanding and polishing.
Machine Feeders and Offbearers (adjacent occupation, 53-7063.00)
The difference is that they do not set process parameters and are not responsible for the dimensions and appearance of the finished product; this occupation must be responsible for the dimensions and appearance of the parts it processes.
Better suited to people who want to do loading, unloading and material flow work.
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (adjacent occupation, 51-6062.00)
The difference is that the core is pattern marking and multilayer cutting in large batches; this occupation relies more on single-piece measuring, marking and manual trimming.
Better suited to people who want to do pattern marking and batch piece cutting.
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic (adjacent occupation, 51-9195.00)
The difference is that the core is forming and casting, which changes the form of the material; this occupation mainly cuts and trims a given material to size.
Better suited to people who want to do forming processes and dies.
How do hand cutters and trimmers compare with adjacent machine cutting, grinding and feeding positions?
The table below compares hand cutters and trimmers with five adjacent directions across four items — occupational direction, core work and outputs, key differences, and what it suits better; occupation codes follow the O*NET-SOC convention, and similarity in material cutting or surface treatment settings does not mean duties, equipment operation or qualifications can be swapped.
Conclusion: these directions all work in material cutting, surface treatment or material flow settings, but the objects (manual cutting and trimming, machine cutting and slicing, metal punching and cutting, hand grinding and polishing, machine feeding and offbearing, textile cutting, non-metallic forming) and whether the role operates a fixed machine, sets die parameters or carries quality release responsibility differ markedly; when choosing, go by the actual duties, objects and process of the target position, not just the occupation title.
Basis: O*NET OnLine 51-9031.00 and the official occupational profiles of the adjacent occupations (updated in 2026); the wage, employment and industry data for this occupation follow 51-9031.00's own basis, the preparation levels and equipment operation requirements of adjacent occupations do not apply to this occupation, and this page is not to be used to infer hiring chances or income.
Next step: using the fictional exercises on this page or one workshop shadowing session, verify whether the object of the target direction is manual cutting and trimming, machine cutting and slicing, metal punching and cutting, hand grinding and polishing, machine feeding and offbearing, textile cutting or non-metallic forming, and then decide on a direction.
When tools are introduced, responsibility does not transfer along with the system; below are the human control steps that can be carried out in this occupation.
Measures, task by task, how close generative AI is to work tasks, rather than making job displacement predictions.
There is no verifiable causal data for this occupation. Technical capability, organizational adoption and headcount are three different levels, and this page does not present any one of them as a conclusion.
Next step: in a production setting where you have permission, verify whether these candidate tools are already in use, and compare first-piece error, missed defects and rework for the same material and tolerance; actual tool and equipment testing must follow protection and maintenance procedures.
Refers to actual changes in headcount and income, determined jointly by order demand, product mix, automation investment and equipment adoption; this page has no verifiable occupation-specific causal data for this occupation.
The 2025 U.S. Lightcast posting text page lists Excel, Outlook and Word, but the posting shares for all three are Not available; they are not generative AI products or evidence of on-site adoption.
How will AI and automation affect hand cutters and trimmers?
What has been verified is 18 occupational tasks and general work context; this round did not obtain this occupation's generative AI adoption rate, measured efficiency gains or a displacement date. The O*NET general automation responses are 21% high, 20% moderate and 18% slight, not a generative AI ratio. The marker planning, equipment parameters and visual inspection in the table below are candidates proposed by the editor for verification; conventional software, tooling and computer-numeric equipment are not the same as generative AI. Trials must verify material suitability, error, safety protection and human permissions.
Below, each source used on this page is listed one by one, along with what it actually regulates or measures and the limits on its use.
O*NET technology and hot technology statistics for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand (51-9031.00)
2025 U.S. posting text keywords, with none of the three shares provided; they do not measure on-site usage rates, proficiency, generative AI adoption or job displacement.
ILO global measurement research on generative AI and occupational task exposure
The abstract read this round did not yield an exposure score or local sample matching 51-9031.00; it cannot therefore be asserted that the full research has no occupation-specific data, let alone infer adoption rates or a displacement date.
O*NET survey of tasks, work activities and work context for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand (51-9031.00)
Lists tasks such as reading work orders, measuring and marking, cutting and profiling, trimming and sanding, and inspecting and packing, together with work context percentages (including 91% working indoors under controlled environmental conditions every day, 80% standing continually or almost continually, and 43% performing repetitive motions continually or almost continually).
This is a task and context profile and contains no technology adoption or job displacement data.
The BLS 2025—2035 projection for this occupation, with O*NET period-average openings for the same period; wages are supported separately by the 2025 OEWS national page.
U.S. 51-9031 own basis: about 5,900 people employed in 2025; BLS projects a decrease of about 1,100, or 19%, over 2025—2035. O*NET classifies it as Decline (-1% or lower), with an annual average of about 500 openings including growth and replacement; a net decrease and replacement openings can exist at the same time, and this is not an individual probability of being hired nor proof of an AI causal effect.
This is aggregate occupational statistics; it contains no causal data on tool adoption and does not predict a displacement date.
NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0)
The voluntary framework recommends clarifying human and machine responsibilities and oversight (GOVERN 3.2), and recording and assessing risk; the trial verification suggestions on this page are proposed on that basis.
A voluntary risk management framework, not a mandatory production procedure, and it does not prove this occupation's AI adoption, efficiency gains or degree of automation.
What tasks are in the official task profile for hand cutters and trimmers?
O*NET lists for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand (51-9031.00): reading the work order to determine dimensions, cutting positions and quantities; positioning using templates or measuring tools and marking cutting lines on the material; cutting, forming and trimming the material with hand tools, shears, hand-held power tools or bench cutting equipment; separating materials by size, weight, type, condition, colour or colour difference; folding or shaping the material before and after cutting; removing excess material and loose threads; pressing bench cutting tools down to the specified specification; adjusting guides and stops to control cutting depth and width; replacing or sharpening blunt tools and blades; sanding, polishing, cleaning and marking the finished item (number, trademark, grade, size or model); picking out defects such as spots, stains, scratches, chipped corners and unacceptable shapes and marking them; and counting or weighing before bundling, stacking and moving to the next process or storage area by cart.
What technologies are commonly mentioned in this occupation's settings?
The hot technology page lists Excel, Outlook and Word, with none of the three posting shares provided. The source is 2025 U.S. posting text and does not support the specific on-site use of "mainly for production scheduling/recording", nor does it prove usage rates or AI adoption.
Do work context statistics show that AI will replace hand cutters and trimmers?
No. The O*NET work context percentages describe tasks and environmental conditions (such as continual standing, repetitive motions, time pressure and the indoor environment) and contain no data on changes in technology adoption, headcount or individual income.
Will technological change directly reduce jobs in this occupation?
How do official projections describe employment in this occupation?
U.S. 51-9031 own basis: about 5,900 people employed in 2025; BLS projects a decrease of about 1,100, or 19%, over 2025—2035. O*NET classifies it as Decline (-1% or lower), with an annual average of about 500 openings including growth and replacement; a net decrease and replacement openings can exist at the same time, and this is not an individual probability of being hired nor proof of an AI causal effect.
Can task exposure research predict that jobs in this occupation will disappear?
No. Exposure is a research indicator of task and technology potential, and the abstract this round did not yield an occupation matching score; it does not provide measured adoption, a net employment causal effect or a disappearance date for this position.
Which governance requirements cannot be omitted when introducing AI tools?
The NIST voluntary framework can be referenced to define human and machine responsibilities, oversight and risk records; equipment safety, protection, hazardous energy control and finished goods inspection are still carried out under applicable law and employer procedures, which the framework cannot replace.
Occupational task and work activity profile
Provides this occupation's tasks, work activities, work context percentages, abilities and interest code RC
The three Office technology keywords listed in the 2025 U.S. Lightcast posting text, with all percentages Not available; they are not evidence of adoption in production settings.
A broad-scope research reference on generative AI exposure; no occupation matching score was verified this round, so it is not a measured adoption or displacement result.
Provides this occupation's tasks, work activities and work context percentages
Provides an entry point for looking up certifications and training in this segment, for verifying certificate and training information
2025 employment and 2025—2035 total projections and typical entry conditions; openings come from O*NET data for the same period, and wage percentiles are cited separately from the national wages page.
A reference in the NIST voluntary framework for human and machine responsibilities, oversight and risk records; not a mandatory cutting process regulation.
Candidate (editorial projection, not measured): marker and marking software can give candidate cutting positions. The specific equipment, material and error must be verified; this is not evidence of generative AI adoption.
Verifying the material grain and template requirements remains the responsibility of people.
Cut and profile with tools or bench equipment
Candidate (editorial projection, not measured): computer-numeric and bench cutting equipment can cut and open holes automatically. The specific equipment, material and error must be verified; this is not evidence of generative AI adoption.
Clamping, first-piece confirmation and handling of out-of-tolerance parts remain the responsibility of people.
Candidate (editorial projection, not measured): equipment can save and recall parameters. The specific equipment, material and error must be verified; this is not evidence of generative AI adoption.
Verifying the material and specification before setting up remains the responsibility of people.
Trim excess material and loose threads, fold and shape
Candidate (editorial projection, not measured): auxiliary tooling can secure and position the material. The specific equipment, material and error must be verified; this is not evidence of generative AI adoption.
Judging by feel and assessing whether the trimming is complete remain the responsibility of people.
Candidate (editorial projection, not measured): sharpening equipment can assist with edge grinding. The specific equipment, material and error must be verified; this is not evidence of generative AI adoption.
Judging the condition of the cutting edge and when to replace remain the responsibility of people.
Candidate (editorial projection, not measured): polishing equipment can assist with surface treatment. The specific equipment, material and error must be verified; this is not evidence of generative AI adoption.
Judging whether the surface meets the standard remains the responsibility of people.
Pick out defects, separate and grade, and count and pack
Candidate (editorial projection, not measured): visual inspection and counting tools can flag defects and quantities. The specific equipment, material and error must be verified; this is not evidence of generative AI adoption.
People review defects, grading and isolation against the standards; final release is the responsibility of the actually authorized position and cannot be presumed from the occupation title.
Candidate (editorial projection, not measured): marker and marking software can quickly give candidate layouts and cutting positions. The actual capability must be verified through controlled trials.
Verify the material grain, defects and template requirements and take responsibility for the marking result.
Candidate (editorial projection, not measured): computer-numeric and bench cutting equipment can cut and open holes automatically to a program. The actual capability must be verified through controlled trials.
Clamping and first-piece confirmation, tool mounting and removal and sharpening, and handling of out-of-tolerance parts remain the responsibility of people.
Candidate (editorial projection, not measured): visual inspection and counting tools can flag defects and quantities. The actual capability must be verified through controlled trials.
Review against the inspection standards; isolation and final release follow the position's actual authorization, and the system must not be allowed to relax the standards on its own.
Verify that the work order dimensions and quantities, the material and batch and the parameters used by the equipment program match the work order; input errors flow straight into the cut result.
Retain human review and authorization for first-piece confirmation, tool mounting and removal and sharpening, handling of out-of-tolerance parts and final release, and do not let equipment output replace work instructions and safety boundaries.
Work orders, first-piece and sampling results, and tool replacement and equipment maintenance are retained according to employer procedure and confirmed by the responsible person, with time and basis noted, traceable to the original work order and program version.
When a tool behaves abnormally, material is defective, equipment fails or a part is out of tolerance, stop processing and report and refer according to procedure.
Automatic cutting equipment, visual inspection and marker software must be used by staff who are trained and operating within their permissions; unverified equipment output must not be used in place of work instructions and employer policies.
Over-reliance on automatic marker planning
Marker software is not accountable for the material grain, defects or template requirements, and misuse can cause miscuts and excess consumption.
Treat software output as a candidate, verify the template and material before cutting, and have the first piece confirmed by the responsible person according to procedure with a record kept.
Safety protection on automatic equipment being ignored
Computer-numeric and bench cutting equipment carries cutting and crushing hazards, and bypassing protection or failing to follow procedures causes injury.
Where equipment tool changes, cleaning or clearing jams are involved, first handle hazardous energy according to equipment and employer procedures by trained and authorized personnel: stop the run, isolate the relevant energy, control stored energy and verify the safe state; pressing a stop button alone is not isolation. U.S. 1910.147 applies only within its own conditions of applicability, and exceptions must meet specific conditions; operations in China follow local rules and equipment procedures and cannot copy U.S. provisions. Guards must not be closed off or modified without authorization; hand tools or protective equipment cannot replace machine guards.
Blunt blades tear the material, exceed tolerance and increase the risk of kickback, and improper mounting easily causes cuts.
Tool maintenance is performed only by trained and authorized personnel according to procedure. Where equipment tool changes, cleaning or clearing jams are involved, first handle hazardous energy according to equipment and employer procedures by trained and authorized personnel: stop the run, isolate the relevant energy, control stored energy and verify the safe state; pressing a stop button alone is not isolation. U.S. 1910.147 applies only within its own conditions of applicability, and exceptions must meet specific conditions; operations in China follow local rules and equipment procedures and cannot copy U.S. provisions. Protective equipment is selected according to the specific equipment instructions and risk assessment; gloves are not uniformly required, and gloves cannot replace machine guards or energy isolation.
Some materials and processes may carry dust or noise risk, and the hazard type, actual measurement and exposure duration must be verified; this page has no disease rates for this occupation or Chinese on-site measurement data.
Use dust extraction and noise reduction measures and personal protection according to procedure, and check the working environment regularly.
Out-of-tolerance parts and missed defects flowing into the next process
Dimensional deviation or missed defects cause rework, scrap and line stoppages in the next process.
Carry out first-piece and sampling checks against the inspection standards, and immediately isolate and report when deviation or a missed defect is found, keeping records.
People preparing to enter this occupation
First build the basics of measuring and marking, cutting to template and trimming and sanding, then learn automatic cutting and marker tools, and develop an awareness of tool safety and inspection.
Treat equipment and software output as candidates and prompts, retain independent review of the first piece, tolerances, tool condition and inspection results, and document truthfully.
Clarify equipment use and human review points, personal protection and dust and noise control rules, and the path for stopping the line and reporting, and write safety and quality into the procedures.
In training, develop manual cutting and trimming, dimensional tolerances, equipment operation and safety protection, and the awareness of verification and responsibility under a human-machine division of labor.
No bounded recruitment sample for comparable Chinese positions was obtained, so piece rates, performance pay or a particular education level cannot be called universal requirements. Verify the written wage composition, piece rate and quality deduction conditions, hours and overtime, and training and equipment permissions.
The Chinese salary conclusion is therefore an evidence boundary, not zero income; the U.S. statistics follow 51-9031.00's own basis and cannot directly substitute for the income of comparable positions in mainland China.
Note: not obtaining an occupation-specific figure does not mean the official channel has never published one; this page only registers the actual scope and results of consultation and does not substitute U.S. data, industry averages or opaque recruitment samples.
Public basis and gaps for cutting, trimming and sanding positions in mainland China
: Comparison is made only when the actual position's tasks and materials match; this round did not verify unified education, piece-rate share or occupational wage percentiles, so each item should be checked against the target employer's public conditions.
Insufficient evidence: this round did not obtain verifiable recruitment or quoted-pay statistics for such positions in mainland China; the pay disclosures of individual units or platforms cannot represent the national level
U.S. BLS records the typical entry conditions for this occupation as no formal educational credential required, no related work experience and short-term on-the-job training; these are statistical typical conditions, not a unified threshold for all employers. O*NET respondents' opinion on the education needed by new employees is 73% below high school, 16% high school or equivalent, and 6% some college without a degree; this is not the education composition of new employees. The Job Zone 1–2 description of training ranging from a few days to a year is a cross-occupation range and cannot be taken as a unified training duration for this occupation or as a Chinese condition.
Items suggested for verification (editorial suggestion): reading dimensions and templates, reporting anomalies, position safety training and equipment permissions; no Chinese recruitment sample was obtained, so this list is not written up as a universal education or piece-rate threshold.
Editorial compilation: positions involving tool and cutting equipment operation, personal protection, and dust and noise protection are subject to work safety regulations, position work instructions and unit policies, and duties and the operable scope must be verified against the specific position and current rules; this page does not constitute a safety or compliance determination.
Advanced verification items (editorial suggestion): if applying for a team or quality management position, also check the position duties, inspection authority and staff coordination requirements; front-line cutting experience does not automatically confer management or quality release qualifications.
Income verification suggestion: check the work order batches, actual hours, piece-rate/position wage agreements, overtime and the basis for quality deductions; this round has no order seasonality or piece-rate share sample, so Chinese income cannot be inferred from the U.S. 40-hour opinion.
Tools may change the process, but this round did not obtain a causal sample of AI adoption and wage change for this occupation in China. An industry annual average wage cannot answer the size of an AI wage rise or cut; it is not claimed that tool change cannot produce occupational data.
This round adds 2025 manufacturing industry background: non-private 113,594 yuan/year, private 76,055 yuan/year, pre-tax averages, not occupational wages. Occupational medians, starting pay, percentiles and recruitment quoted pay remain insufficient evidence, and no monthly conversion or substitution with U.S. values is made.
Insufficient evidence: individual starting pay, take-home income or continuous hours were not verified. The source publishes both annual and hourly wages, and the 96% of respondents for this occupation working a typical 40 hours cannot be used to calculate an individual's stable annual income or assume overtime income.
Employment size, projected change and job openings each answer a different question and must not be conflated into an individual probability of being hired; all three follow 51-9031.00's own basis.
The main 2025 industries are manufacturing 65% and administrative and support services 13%; this is this occupation's employment distribution, not industry wages or the income of all employers. The remaining industries are not set out item by item on this page, and the old 70/30 classification is not carried over.
Insufficient evidence: no state- or area-level median wage for this occupation was obtained (United States, 2025 wage data period). Area values must be looked up on the O*NET local wages page by area and period and cannot be treated as an individual offer. Wage statistics and the profile serve different purposes: OEWS is used for wages, O*NET for tasks, work context and preparation level, and employment projections are limited to the 2025—2035 projection period; they are retained separately when cited, and all figures on this page follow 51-9031.00's own basis.
How should the wages and employment of U.S. hand cutters and trimmers be read?
Wage percentiles and the annual wage basis
The median marks the midpoint of the distribution: under this basis, half of workers are below and half above that value; it is not the average starting pay and does not mean it is reached upon entry.
Questions to ask when reading these numbers
A percentile corresponds to a distribution position rather than a skill level: the difference between the 10th and 90th percentiles comes from industry, area, product type and scope of duties at the same time; the source does not prove a correspondence with experience, and it cannot be treated as an individual offer.
U.S. 51-9031 own basis: about 5,900 people employed in 2025; BLS projects a decrease of about 1,100, or 19%, over 2025—2035. O*NET classifies it as Decline (-1% or lower), with an annual average of about 500 openings including growth and replacement; a net decrease and replacement openings can exist at the same time, and this is not an individual probability of being hired nor proof of an AI causal effect.
Which industries is this occupation distributed across?
In 2025, manufacturing accounted for 65% of this occupation's employment, not manufacturing wages or the Chinese position share.
In 2025, administrative and support services accounted for 13% of this occupation's employment, not the old "other including wholesale trade 30%".
The page lists only these two main industries; the 22% difference is not passed off as an officially separately listed "other industries" and wages are not split on that basis.
The arithmetic sum of 65% and 13% is 78%, the remaining 22% being an editorial difference; industry employment classification does not identify self-employment, individual offers or wage differences.
What factors make income differ for similar positions?
OEWS annual/hourly wages are a statistical basis; actual hours, bonuses, overtime and take-home taxes should be checked separately against the employment contract and pay records. The O*NET96% typical 40 hours does not provide a basis for converting individual income.
Duties under the same occupation title vary considerably: across settings such as manufacturing lines, manual workshops and processing shops, product types, equipment and inspection standards differ, corresponding to different skills and work intensity.
Income comparison can verify area, duties, hours and wage composition, but this page did not verify the contribution of each factor to wage differences in this occupation, so wages cannot be inferred from industry shares.
How should employment projections be read?
Where comparable occupation income for mainland China was not obtained, this page keeps the gap, does not interpolate, does not borrow from adjacent occupations, and does not perform currency conversion.
O*NET20% reported strict deadlines more than once a week but not every day, and 43% perform repetitive motions continually or almost continually. These can be used to ask about the target workstation's pace; first-piece sampling and anomaly reporting are editorial suggestions, subject to employer policies.
Trait descriptions do not diagnose personality and do not predict whether someone can handle a specific position.
First verify the real shape of the work: the share of daily standing and repetitive motions, the dusty and noisy environment, the operating intensity of tools and equipment, and whether you accept being inspected and picking out defects against standards.
Do not use communication style to judge hiring or assignment, and do not treat emotional descriptions as health conclusions.
Check it item by item against what you can tolerate.
RC (Realistic, Conventional)
Realistic corresponds to working with materials, tools and equipment by hand and producing physical items; Conventional corresponds to verifying dimensions, recording and inspecting according to procedures and standards. The code comes from the official interest profile and is not a personality label.
The interest code published for this occupation on the O*NET summary page is RC: Realistic corresponds to hands-on cutting, trimming and operating tools and equipment, and Conventional to verifying and recording against tolerances and inspection standards. Please check against actual tasks — whether you are willing to stand and work by hand for long periods and measure and verify repeatedly; the interest code only describes the type of activity, does not predict work performance and does not constitute a hiring standard.
Do your work preferences match those of a hand cutter and trimmer?
Fit is not a personality judgment; it is about matching the real demands of daily work — standing for long periods at a fixed workstation, measuring and marking to work orders and templates and cutting by hand, accepting repetitive motions and dimensional tolerances, using tools and protective equipment as specified and picking out defects against inspection standards, and stopping and reporting upward first when something is abnormal —
The interest types and questionnaires in this section describe experience preferences only; they do not replace ability, qualification, training or hiring judgments and must not be used as conclusions for hiring, assignment or performance assessment.
First complete one exercise using safe materials such as cardboard, fabric or foam — "read the dimensions from a fictional work order — mark and position using a template — cut along the line — measure to check whether the tolerance is exceeded — pick out and mark defects — count and pack" — or one workshop shadowing session, and then judge your preference.
Occupational interests (RIASEC)
Are my interest types close to manual cutting work?
The interest code O*NET publishes for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand (51-9031.00) is RC: Realistic corresponds to working materials and tools by hand and producing physical items, and Conventional to verifying dimensions and recording according to procedure. Treat the code as a clue to the type of activity, not as a personality label.
Willing to work materials and tools by hand and produce physical items that meet specification.
Willing to verify against tolerances and inspection standards and record truthfully.
Official source: O*NET OnLine 51-9031.00 interest code (updated in 2026)
The interest code only describes the type of activity; it does not predict work performance and does not constitute a hiring standard.
Do my personality traits help with manual cutting work?
The Big Five can help describe how you feel about yourself; this round has no validity research for this occupation, so conscientiousness or emotional stability cannot be called the "most directly" related to the work. Test actual readiness through dimensional verification, defect marking, anomaly reporting and training performance.
Able to verify against tolerances and inspection standards and keep records reliable.
Able to stay focused and safe amid repetitive motions and tool hazards.
General self-observation; insufficient evidence: no matching thresholds, validity or hiring prediction for this occupation were verified.
Personality preferences (MBTI-type)
Can MBTI tell me whether I am suited to manual cutting or to quality inspection or team leadership?
MBTI-type tools describe preferences and are not occupational assignment tools; the difference between manual cutting and quality inspection or team leadership lies mainly in the form of work (hands-on processing versus verification and coordination), not in preference type. Please check with actual experience.
Self-observation question: am I willing to measure and trim by hand repeatedly? The answer does not directly assign a position.
Self-observation question: am I willing to verify defects and explain anomalies? This must be validated with actual tasks and is not a type-matching conclusion.
General-purpose tool: a type preference description, not an occupational fit assessment
Type results must not be used as a basis for hiring, assignment or promotion.
Motivation clues (Enneagram-type)
Can the Enneagram help me understand why I want to do manual cutting?
Enneagram-type tools describe motivation clues: wanting to make physical items by hand, wanting stable employment, or wanting to enter manufacturing and processing to build experience lead to different choices. Treat it as a tool for asking questions, not as a conclusion about a position.
Able to articulate what you want to get out of this job.
Willing to test whether the motivation holds up using actual job observation and mentoring feedback.
General-purpose tool: a motivation description, not an occupational fit assessment
Do not treat motivation descriptions as a career choice conclusion or a basis for employment decisions.
Cognitive and operational abilities
What are the cognitive and operational ability requirements of this occupation?
The O*NET ability profile lists position activities such as manual dexterity, arm-hand steadiness and near vision; its scores do not correspond to IQ scores on this site. Job Zone is a preparation range, not an intelligence level, and the BLS education condition is not an IQ or operational proficiency threshold.
Able to hold tools steadily and cut along the line.
Able to complete verification and recording reliably according to procedures and standards.
General-purpose tool: a cognitive performance description, with no official occupational threshold
Cognitive test results are not used as a hiring standard and do not replace training and operational proficiency.
Communication and emotional management
Are strong communication and emotional management abilities needed?
These positions require collaboration with workers in the same process, inspection staff and team leaders and progress under delivery pressure; the O*NET survey shows 56% have continual contact with others, 22% rate collaboration with a team as extremely important, 36% rate coordinating or leading others as extremely important, and 20% face time pressure more than once a week. Emotional-type tools only provide an angle for self-observation; they are not a threshold for the position.
Able to explain process progress and abnormal situations clearly.
Able to stay focused under delivery pressure and repetitive work and hold to safety procedures.
General-purpose tool: a communication and emotion description, not a threshold for the position
Manual cutting and profiling direction
Measure and mark to work orders and templates, and cut, profile and cut openings with hand tools or bench equipment; suited to people willing to work materials by hand and cut within tolerance.
Constrained by work orders and tolerances; hand steadiness and measuring accuracy must be maintained through repeated cutting.
Trimming, sanding and inspection direction
Trim excess material and loose threads, fold and shape, replace and sharpen tools, sand and polish, and pick out defects and separate and grade them against inspection standards; suited to people willing to do surface treatment and quality verification.
Constrained by surface and inspection standards; consistent judgements must be maintained through repeated inspection.
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (adjacent occupation)
Set up and tend cutting or slicing machines to cut material continuously into slices, blocks or strips to specification.
The machine cutting occupation emphasizes setup, running and tending, but it also has tool maintenance, inspection and manual support tasks; the bench tools used in this occupation do not automatically equate to that occupation.
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (adjacent occupation)
Set up and operate punching, shearing or press equipment to punch, cut and form metal or plastic.
The objects are metal and plastic sheet and forming relies on punching dies; moving into it requires building die and punching operation skills.
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand (adjacent occupation)
Use hand tools and hand-held power tools to grind, polish and correct workpiece surfaces to meet surface requirements.
Surface treatment is the main purpose, but the profile also contains overlapping tasks such as trimming and dimensional verification; moving into it requires adding abrasive selection and target surface standards, and it cannot be said to involve no cutting at all.
Machine Feeders and Offbearers (adjacent occupation)
Feed machines or remove machined parts from machines, maintaining takt and work-in-progress flow.
The feeder profile also includes inspection, recording and some control operations, so it is not "no inspection/no adjustment". Moving into it requires verifying the machine loading process, feed protection and actual permissions.
Will repeated measuring, cutting and inspection make you lose patience?
Can you accept inspection and mentoring pointing out dimensional or appearance problems in your work?
Will delivery pressure and large batch orders make you process things hastily?
Would you rather do manual cutting or trimming and inspection?
Manual cutting places more weight on hands-on work and tolerances, while trimming and inspection places more weight on surface treatment and judgement: be clear about the target direction before deciding.
Are you willing to stand for long periods and communicate frequently with workers in the same process?
According to the O*NET survey, 80% stand continually or almost continually, 91% work indoors under controlled environmental conditions every day, and 56% have continual contact with others; the work requires both hands-on processing and liaison with inspection and adjacent processes.
Can you adapt to prolonged standing and repetitive motions?
Among U.S. respondents, 80% stand continually or almost continually and 43% perform repetitive motions continually or almost continually; dust and noise require checking the specific workstation hazards and measurements, and the indoor percentage does not prove such exposure. No health or hiring judgement is made here.
Can you adapt to the pace created by order batches?
Among U.S. respondents, 96% work a typical 40-hour week and 20% face strict deadlines more than once a week but not every day; Chinese working hours, peak-season overtime or each worker's pressure cannot be inferred. Actual shifts, work breaks and piece-rate pace should be verified separately.
Are you willing to keep practicing measuring, cutting and equipment operation?
Editorial self-observation suggestion: record mentoring feedback, first-piece reviews and actual cutting and trimming results, and check the tasks that need improvement; at present no evidence for this position shows that these records predict fit better than test scores, and competence must not be judged from any single item.
Can an interest or personality test decide whether I am suited to manual cutting?
No. Tests describe preference clues; they do not predict work performance and do not constitute a hiring, qualification or suitability judgment; the real judgment comes from actual job observation, mentoring feedback and your own condition.
What should the next step be?
Start with a paper-based dimensional and defect marking walkthrough, and obtain the actual position's hours, materials, equipment and training information; entering a workshop or using cutting tools requires permission and safety training, and the fictional exercises do not authorize equipment operation.
Supports tasks, work context, abilities and the interest code; the interest code only describes the type of activity and does not constitute a fit conclusion.
Supports the current employment total and typical entry preparation; not for judging an individual's personality fit.
Observation points for preparation level, industry distribution and education feedback (O*NET 51-9031.00), not representing any specific employer's hiring conditions.
The O*NET interest questionnaire describes experience preferences only; it does not replace ability, qualification, training or hiring judgments.
For comparison with machine setup and batch monitoring in the cutting and slicing machine setters, operators and tenders direction (adjacent occupation).
For comparison with punching and die operation in the cutting, punching and press machine setters, operators and tenders, metal and plastic direction (adjacent occupation).
For comparison with surface treatment and polishing in the grinding and polishing workers, hand direction (adjacent occupation).
For comparison with feeding and work-in-progress flow in the machine feeders and offbearers direction (adjacent occupation).
Editorial check suggestion: verify first-piece, out-of-tolerance and record requirements against the actual work order, template and unit quality procedure; handle blunt tools or dangerous equipment anomalies under the applicable safety procedure, and maintenance tool changes must be performed by trained and authorized staff. Whether an out-of-tolerance condition pauses production, how products are isolated and how they are reviewed are determined by the unit's specific process, and not every out-of-tolerance condition is treated as an energy isolation situation.
Editorial check suggestion: verify whether work breaks, posture, bench surfaces and tooling match the actual tasks against the position assessment and unit arrangements; report discomfort through the unit's channels and seek professional help. This page did not obtain a specific ergonomics plan and does not write the adjustment suggestions up as verified health effects.
Editorial check suggestion: verify and mark and separate truthfully against the unit's actual inspection standards and limit samples; disagreements in judgement are referred to the authorized inspector or team leader for review and recorded. O*NET supports the marking/rejection of defects task but does not provide the unit's complete quality procedure.
Follow the first-piece and sampling process and secure safety and verification before speed; when necessary, explain the situation and apply for an adjustment or report upward according to procedure.
What are the actual job risks for hand cutters and trimmers?
The tool/equipment hazards, the dust and noise of the actual material and process, the standing and repetitive motion load, and the scenarios of dimensional deviation, missed defects and rush work should be verified. They are risk check points under the tasks and conditions and cannot be used to infer daily exposure for all positions or the probability of accidents or disease.
The occupational tasks and U.S. work context support verification of the hazardous scenarios but do not provide accident or disease rates; Chinese training, protection and safety equipment duties cite specific provisions of the Work Safety Law, and U.S. machine guarding and hazardous energy cite applicable OSHA standards. Quality isolation, work adjustments and delivery control are editorial suggestions that in practice follow employer policies, and wage/employment projections must not be used as safety evidence.
This section only explains risk and control directions; it does not replace work safety regulations, tool and equipment operating procedures, or the employer's inspection and authorization policies, and it does not constitute a safety determination, liability determination or legal advice.
Start with the work context and working conditions
Positions using hand cutting tools, shears, power tools and bench cutting equipment
Sharp edges, bench cutting tools and power tools carry cutting and crushing hazards; they are especially dangerous when mounting and removing tools, cleaning cutting edges, when material kicks back, or when guards are not used according to procedure.
Tool and equipment injuries can cause serious consequences such as cuts and crushing.
Positions involving dust and noise from sanding, polishing and cutting
The risk varies with material and process: O*NET28% reported daily contact with contaminants (including dust), and 22% daily contact with distracting or uncomfortable noise; the 91% indoor figure or 80% prolonged standing cannot prove exposure. The source does not provide local hazard concentrations, noise doses or disease rates, and workstation testing and protection arrangements should be checked separately.
Whether there is a respiratory or hearing hazard should be assessed together with the substance, intensity and duration; this page has no occupational disease incidence or individual health conclusions.
Dimensional deviation and material scrap
Positions responsible for measuring, marking and cutting
Editorial scenario: misreading the work order, template positioning error, a guide not being set correctly or an abnormal tool can cause dimensional deviation, rework or scrap; the task source supports these verification steps but does not provide the probability that an error necessarily causes a whole batch to be scrapped.
Deviation and scrap disrupt delivery dates and cause material and labour losses.
The load of repetitive motions and prolonged standing
Positions mainly involving repeated cutting, trimming and inspection at a workstation
O*NET shows that for this occupation, 80% said they stand continually or almost continually, 43% recorded repetitive motions as continual or almost continual, and 91% said they work indoors in a controlled environment every day; these data support observing the working conditions of prolonged standing and repetitive motions; the specific physical load and protection arrangements must be assessed for the actual position, and no disease or individual diagnosis is inferred.
Fatigue or discomfort may occur and must be verified against the actual workstation and personal circumstances; the work context percentages are not disease risk probabilities.
Missed defects and inconsistent judgements
Positions responsible for inspection, marking and separation and grading
If defects such as spots, stains, scratches, chipped corners and unacceptable shapes are missed or judged inconsistently, they flow into the next process and trigger rework, returns and complaints.
Missed defects and inconsistent judgements undermine finished goods quality and traceability.
Judgement and safety risk under delivery pressure
Positions processing under order delivery dates and large batch production
20% of respondents face strict deadlines more than once a week but not every day. Editorial risk projection: if protection or verification is omitted to rush the work, safety and quality problems may result; the source does not provide rush-work accident rates or causal estimates.
Delivery pressure affects the quality of judgement and work safety.
Wage and employment projections are used only for occupational scale and income background and do not prove tool, dust or missed-defect risk; the corresponding risks in this section now cite tasks and applicable law instead.
Observation points for preparation level, industry distribution and education feedback (O*NET 51-9031.00).
Articles 28–30, 36 and 44–45 of China's Work Safety Law support position training, protection and safety equipment requirements; they are not medical or ergonomic conclusions.
For work context percentages and working conditions (O*NET 51-9031.00; the corresponding source id is sag-moa).
The NIST voluntary framework only supports AI human-machine oversight and risk records; it does not prove traditional missed-defect rates or impose mandatory safety requirements on workers.
| Entry-level position | What you mainly do at the start | Preparation evidence verification (editorial suggestion) | How to demonstrate it without experience | Difference from other directions |
|---|
| Cutting support position | Under the guidance of a mentor, handle material movement and loading, assist with measuring and clean up, using simple tools and protection according to procedure. | Attention to detail, safety procedure compliance and hands-on ability. | A fictional measuring and support record sample. | Supervised support and cleaning, without independent responsibility for cutting and tolerances. |
| Cutting and profiling position | Independently read work orders, measure and mark, cut and profile and open holes to template, and adjust guides and stops. | Dimensional tolerances, marking accuracy, material utilization and escalation judgement. | A fictional work order reading and cutting and marking sample. | Responsible for the dimensions and appearance of the parts processed, with execution to work order and records kept. |
| Trimming and sanding position | Trim excess material and loose threads, fold and shape, replace and sharpen tools and sand and polish the finished item. | Surface treatment quality, tool condition and record quality. | A fictional trimming and sanding record sample. | Focused on surface treatment and tool maintenance, constrained by inspection standards. |
| Inspection and packing position | Pick out defects against inspection standards, separate and grade and mark them, and count or weigh before packing and moving. | Consistency of inspection judgements, accuracy of separation and grading, and completeness of records. | A fictional defect judgement and separation and grading sample. | The focus is inspection and packing, requiring liaison with adjacent processes. |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (adjacent direction) | Set up and tend cutting or slicing machines to cut material continuously into slices, blocks or strips to specification. | Machine setup, batch quality and equipment safety. | A fictional machine parameter and first-piece confirmation sample. | The adjacent occupation is mainly machine setup and tending the run, with overlapping inspection and tool maintenance; the boundary is verified by the specific tasks. |
Education and training requirements
U.S. BLS records the typical entry conditions for this occupation as no formal educational credential required, no related work experience and short-term on-the-job training; these are statistical typical conditions, not a unified threshold for all employers. O*NET respondents' opinion on the education needed by new employees is 73% below high school, 16% high school or equivalent, and 6% some college without a degree; this is not the education composition of new employees. The Job Zone 1–2 description of training ranging from a few days to a year is a cross-occupation range and cannot be taken as a unified training duration for this occupation or as a Chinese condition.
Evidence on Chinese recruitment samples and unified education/training duration is insufficient; statutory safety training and U.S. typical preparation are listed separately.
Physical and working environment adaptation
Verify the actual standing, repetitive motions, material and machine hazards and protection conditions; dust and noise do not occur daily in every position.
This page did not obtain unified public conditions for mainland China, which must be verified against the target employer's requirements for the current year; this page does not constitute health or hiring advice.
Observable evidence of professional ability
Able to cut within tolerance to work order and template, trim excess material and loose threads, sand and polish to standard and pick out defects against inspection standards, and to stop the machine and report upward according to procedure on deviation, abnormal tools or defective material (from O*NET task and work context data).
The above are task and context observation points, not personality labels or hiring thresholds; the work context shows 80% standing continually or almost continually, 43% performing repetitive motions continually or almost continually, and 91% working indoors under controlled environmental conditions every day.
Common objects and tool scope
Materials such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass and rubber; hand cutting tools, shears and hand-held power tools; bench cutting machines and dies; templates, straightedges and measuring tools; grinding wheels, brushes and polishing materials; and counting, weighing and packing equipment; the O*NET technology profile lists technology keywords such as Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.
Hot technology refers only to U.S. posting keywords, with none of the three shares provided, and does not prove on-site use or equipment authorization.
Work sample one: a fictional cutting plan
Deliverable: a fully fictional cutting and profiling plan, including the work order dimensions, the template positioning method, the key points of measuring and marking, and the tolerance verification method.
State the basis for each judgement (work order, template or inspection standard); the plan must not be self-contradictory.
Work sample two: fictional trimming and sanding records
Deliverable: a fictional trimming and sanding record, including how excess material and loose threads were handled, tool replacement, the sanding and polishing steps and the surface verification method.
Distinguish the given data from your own judgements, explain the basis, and do not use real production order data.
Work sample three: a fictional inspection and grading note
Deliverable: a fictional inspection and grading note, including defect types, judgement standards, the separation and grading method, and the isolation and reporting path for deviation or a missed defect.
Work sample four: a debrief note
Deliverable: a one-page note explaining how you would handle deviation, an abnormal tool or defective material, which step takes the most time, and what you will practice next; do not include real production orders or commercial information.
| Stage | What may be assessed | Observation evidence | Boundaries of use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measuring and drawing-reading Q&A | Whether you can clearly explain the basic requirements and basis of work order dimensions, template positioning and tolerance verification. | Answer records and the process of the scenario exercise. | One employer's assessment method does not represent a unified process. |
| Safety and anomaly judgement | Whether you can state the sequence of stopping, isolating and reporting when a tool is abnormal, material is defective, equipment fails or a part is out of tolerance. | Answer records and the basis for judgement. | The scope of assessment is set by the employer; this page makes no inference. |
| Tool and equipment Q&A | Whether you understand the basic requirements for tool mounting, removal and sharpening, bench equipment operation and protection. | Answer records or an on-site demonstration. | Assessment standards are set by the employer; this page makes no inference. |
| Mentoring or trial-shift observation | The standard of measuring, cutting, trimming and inspection performed as required by the mentor, and safety awareness. | Mentor evaluation or trial-shift records, and a process debrief. | Assessment and hiring conditions are set by the employer; this page does not constitute a hiring promise or authorization. |
| Qualification/preparation item | Mainly suited to whom | Practical role in job seeking | Whether it is a universal entry threshold | Registration/processing conditions | Investment considerations | Important limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Job seekers | Subject to the target employer's actual posting | U.S. BLS typical conditions require no formal educational credential; for China this round did not verify a unified education requirement | Target employer posting | Insufficient evidence: cost or duration not verified | Education does not replace safety training, hands-on ability or equipment permissions |
| Position safety education and training | Workers taking up the position | Article 28 of China's Work Safety Law requires taking up the position after passing training | A statutory duty in China; the typical short-term on-the-job training under U.S. conditions for this occupation is listed separately | Organized by the unit according to law with training records verified | Insufficient evidence: unified duration/cost not verified | Passing training does not automatically grant all equipment/maintenance permissions |
| Equipment permissions and statutory qualifications (where applicable) | Staff who actually operate and maintain equipment | Verify the explicit scope of operation/maintenance permitted | Special operations follow the current scope for the actual task; not all cutting positions uniformly require it | Statutory qualifications and internal authorization are listed separately | Insufficient evidence: the processing cost and duration for this position were not verified | Internal authorization cannot replace statutory qualification, and a permit cannot be inferred from the occupation title |
| Tool and equipment maintenance skills | People who replace and sharpen tools and maintain equipment | Affects readiness for related positions | Not an entry threshold for all positions | Accumulated through process practice and mentoring | Insufficient evidence: unified training input/duration not verified | Maintenance skills are not equivalent to equipment modification or repair authorization. |
| Quality inspection and limit sample knowledge | People who carry out inspection and grading | Affects readiness for quality inspection positions | Not an entry threshold for all production positions | Accumulated through inspection practice and standards training | Insufficient evidence: unified training input/duration not verified | Inspection knowledge is not equivalent to the authority to decide quality release. |
| Process management ability | People preparing to take on team leader or process management duties | Affects competitiveness and readiness for related positions | Not an entry threshold | Accumulated through front-line production and management practice | Insufficient evidence: unified training input/duration not verified | Management ability is not equivalent to quality or safety decision authority. |
Education, position safety training, statutory special operations qualifications (only where applicable), equipment and maintenance permissions, and quality release duties are verified separately and cannot substitute for one another.
U.S. BLS records the typical entry conditions for this occupation as no formal educational credential required, no related work experience and short-term on-the-job training; these are statistical typical conditions, not a unified threshold for all employers. O*NET respondents' opinion on the education needed by new employees is 73% below high school, 16% high school or equivalent, and 6% some college without a degree; this is not the education composition of new employees. The Job Zone 1–2 description of training ranging from a few days to a year is a cross-occupation range and cannot be taken as a unified training duration for this occupation or as a Chinese condition.
The specific Chinese basis is Articles 28–30, 36 and 44–45 of the Work Safety Law; an internal operating permit does not replace an applicable statutory qualification, and whether something counts as a special operation is verified against the actual task and the current catalogue.
This round did not verify the target employer's recruitment sample, unified training duration/cost or a single national cutting licence, and the certification look-up entry point is not treated as proof of mandatory entry.
Entry verification has three levels: the employer's recruitment conditions, passing safety education and training, and the specific tool, equipment and maintenance permissions. U.S. BLS records the typical entry conditions for this occupation as no formal educational credential required, no related work experience and short-term on-the-job training; these are statistical typical conditions, not a unified threshold for all employers. O*NET respondents' opinion on the education needed by new employees is 73% below high school, 16% high school or equivalent, and 6% some college without a degree; this is not the education composition of new employees. The Job Zone 1–2 description of training ranging from a few days to a year is a cross-occupation range and cannot be taken as a unified training duration for this occupation or as a Chinese condition.
U.S. BLS records the typical entry conditions for this occupation as no formal educational credential required, no related work experience and short-term on-the-job training; these are statistical typical conditions, not a unified threshold for all employers. O*NET respondents' opinion on the education needed by new employees is 73% below high school, 16% high school or equivalent, and 6% some college without a degree; this is not the education composition of new employees. The Job Zone 1–2 description of training ranging from a few days to a year is a cross-occupation range and cannot be taken as a unified training duration for this occupation or as a Chinese condition.
Article 28 of China's Work Safety Law requires taking up the position after passing safety education and training; Article 29 requires specialized training for new processes, technologies, materials and equipment; Article 30 requires a separate qualification only where a special operation actually applies. A special operations certificate cannot be inferred merely from the title "cutter", and no unified national education or training duration was verified. An employer's internal equipment permissions cannot replace statutory qualifications.
Fictional production scenario material (exercise input)
Fictional scenario: a hand cutter and trimmer encounters four problems during a shift. First, a batch of material has local scratches and colour differences, and the appearance grade required by the work order is unclear; second, a measured piece sits at the edge of the tolerance and it is unclear whether it can be released; third, after the bench cutting tool is pressed down there is burring and the tool is somewhat blunt; fourth, the delivery date is very tight and the team leader wants to finish the work first and add the first-piece record afterwards.
Materials provided: work order dimensions and quantities; appearance grades and defect limit samples; inspection and first-piece confirmation requirements; tool maintenance and replacement procedures.
Materials not provided: the rules for judging and conceding edge dimensions, the authority to perform tool replacement, the order of first-piece records, and the division of responsibility for deviation and missed defects. If the exercise requires these conditions, state your assumptions and the people you need to confirm with.
Task requirements
Please write a one-page handling and reporting plan covering: verification and handling recommendations for defects and colour differences, re-verification and handling of edge dimensions, handling of burring and tool problems, and the order of first-piece checks and records under delivery pressure.
The plan must state which information comes from the given materials and which is still assumption, and indicate whether the basis is the work order, inspection standards or tool procedures.
Reference deliverable (can be derived from the prompt)
The plan should include: defects and colour differences (verify piece by piece against the limit samples, pick out and mark items beyond the limit, and ask inspection or the team leader to confirm when uncertain rather than relaxing the standard yourself), edge dimensions (re-measure and verify whether they are within tolerance, stop the machine and isolate and report according to procedure on deviation, and do not release on your own), burring and tools (replace or sharpen the tool according to procedure and re-set and confirm the first piece before continuing), delivery pressure (explain that the first-piece check and records cannot be omitted, and apply for an adjustment or additional resources when necessary rather than finishing first and recording later), and handover (state the status of the four items, the actions taken and the matters still to be confirmed).
The reference deliverable only lists the elements that should be included and does not require wording identical to the example; being able to explain the basis for your judgements is enough.
Boundaries and conclusions that cannot be inferred
This item only tests awareness of dimensional verification, inspection judgement, tool and safety handling and anomaly escalation; it does not evaluate whether the handling of any real case is compliant, and it does not constitute a safety determination, liability determination or legal advice.
Do not use real production orders or unredacted commercial information; where real tool and equipment operation, personal protection, dust and noise protection and finished goods inspection are involved, safety procedures, work instructions and unit policies must be followed.
Day 1: Read a public document
Find a public educational document on manual cutting or work safety, mark three key requirements and the corresponding practices, and write down the points you want to confirm.
Day 2: Run one measuring and marking walkthrough
Using safe material such as cardboard, write out the dimensions, the template positioning method and the marking points for a fictional work order, and note the conditions that need confirmation.
Day 3: Write a first-piece and tolerance verification checklist
Using a fictional work order, list the first-piece confirmation and sampling items and the basis for judgement, marking the items that require stopping the machine and reporting.
Day 4: Run one safety and protection verification
Using a fictional scenario, write out the verification points for tool operation, personal protection and dust and noise protection, and the sequence for handling anomalies.
Day 5: Write an inspection and grading record
Using fictional pieces, write a defect judgement and separation and grading record, including the basis for judgement, the isolation method and the reporting path.
Day 6: Have someone review using only the materials
Ask a peer to review your judgements using only your plan, and write down the questions they raise.
Day 7: Decide whether to continue
Return to the judgement checklist on this page and write down three reasons you are willing to continue and two conditions that call for caution.
How do hand cutters and trimmers enter the field and advance?
Preparation and verification when entering the field
The exercises, work samples and seven-day arrangement on this page are editorial designs, and the materials are fictional or based on public information; they do not constitute proof of training completion, a hiring promise or equipment operation authorization.
United States: BLS typical entry conditions for this occupation and O*NET respondents' preparation opinions; China: the Work Safety Law and actual employer procedures. No Chinese job posting sample was obtained, so Chinese conditions cannot be inferred from U.S. education or training ranges.
This section explains the U.S. preparation level and the actual situation in mainland China separately:
Qualifications and credentials must be verified item by item: education, position operation and safety training, equipment operation authorization or work qualification, tool and equipment maintenance skills, and quality inspection ability are not the same level of status and cannot substitute for one another.
Supervised support workstation
Under the guidance of a mentor, handle material movement, loading and unloading, basic measuring and cleaning, able to use simple tools and protection according to procedure and record truthfully; the goal is to become familiar with the materials, tools and processes.
Independently handle cutting and trimming
Independently read work orders, measure and mark and cut and profile to template, trim excess material and loose threads and sand and polish: able to verify dimensional tolerances and to stop and report and refer on deviation, abnormal tools or defective material.
Responsible for inspection and complex processes
Pick out defects and separate and grade them against inspection standards and limit samples, handle complex cutting and machine setup, and able to judge whether dimensions and appearance meet standard and work with review and adjacent processes.
Team leader or process management direction
Advanced direction (editorial suggestion): participate in process scheduling, team coordination and quality review; the management position posting, authorization and experience requirements must be verified separately, and a fixed promotion period or qualification cannot be inferred from the cutting occupational profile.
Manual cutting and profiling direction
Cutting support position
Under the guidance of a mentor, handle material movement and loading, assist with measuring and clean up, using simple tools and protection according to procedure.
Able to complete support and cleaning according to procedure and report anomalies promptly.
Verify the target employer's actual education requirement; in China, take up the position after passing safety training, with equipment and maintenance permissions confirmed separately, and no unified education threshold is set on this page.
Familiar with the material, tool and process requirements.
Cutting and profiling position
Independently read work orders, measure and mark, cut and profile and open holes to template, and adjust guides and stops.
Dimensions within tolerance, accurate marking and positioning, and deviation reported according to procedure.
According to the employer's requirements; position operation and safety training is the core basis.
Learn complex cutting and profiling techniques.
Complex cutting and machine setup position
Handle complex shapes and materials, adjust equipment parameters and tooling, and review piece dimensions and appearance.
Able to balance tolerances, material characteristics and efficiency requirements.
According to company policies and position requirements.
Learn machine setup and process improvement.
Team leader direction (adjacent)
Responsible for process scheduling, quality standards and team management, taking on coordination and review.
Able to balance quality, safety and team condition.
Separately verify the experience, management duties and authorization of the target team management position; there is no unified recruitment sample or threshold this round.
Verify the duties and qualification requirements of this direction.
Trimming, sanding and inspection direction
Trimming support position
Under guidance, trim excess material and loose threads, clean finished items and record according to procedure, using simple tools and protection.
Able to complete trimming and cleaning according to procedure, and record and report discrepancies truthfully.
Verify the target employer's actual education requirement; in China, take up the position after passing safety training, with equipment and maintenance permissions confirmed separately, and no unified education threshold is set on this page.
Familiar with trimming, sanding and inspection standards.
Trimming and sanding position
Independently trim excess material and loose threads, fold and shape, replace and sharpen tools and sand and polish the finished item.
Surface treatment to standard, tools in normal condition, and traceable records.
According to the employer's requirements; surface treatment and inspection training is the core basis.
Learn surface treatment and limit sample judgement.
Inspection and grading position
Pick out defects against inspection standards, separate and grade and mark them, and assist with rework and isolation handling.
Able to balance inspection standards, limit samples and delivery requirements.
According to company policies and position requirements.
Learn inspection standard development and quality improvement.
Quality management direction (adjacent)
Responsible for quality standards, inspection specifications and external communication.
Able to balance quality, efficiency and collaboration goals.
According to company policies and rules.
Verify the duties and qualification requirements of this direction.
Equipment operation and process coordination direction
Equipment operation support position
Assist with equipment loading and unloading, cleaning and status records, using protection according to procedure.
Able to complete support work according to procedure and record truthfully.
Verify the target employer's actual education requirement; in China, take up the position after passing safety training, with equipment and maintenance permissions confirmed separately, and no unified education threshold is set on this page.
Familiar with equipment operation and safety procedures.
Equipment operation position
Operate cutting or sanding equipment, mount and remove tools and process in batches after first-piece confirmation.
Correct equipment parameters, acceptable first piece and compliant anomaly handling.
Equipment operation training, the employer's permitted scope and statutory qualifications (where actually applicable) are verified separately; completing training does not automatically authorize tool changes, repair or modification.
Learn equipment adjustment and initial fault diagnosis.
Process coordination position
Coordinate the pace of adjacent processes, material and work-in-progress flow, handle anomalies and hand over.
Able to balance takt, quality and safety requirements.
According to company policies and position requirements.
Learn process optimization and multi-party coordination.
Production management direction (adjacent)
Responsible for production planning, team and site management, taking on coordination and target management.
Able to balance delivery dates, quality, safety and staffing.
According to company policies and rules.
Verify the relevant requirements for this management direction.
U.S. 2025 employment and 2025—2035 projections and this occupation's typical education, experience and short-term on-the-job training; not an individual qualification certificate.
Observation points for preparation level, industry distribution and education feedback (O*NET 51-9031.00).
For directional verification of the employment, safety and operation boundaries of manufacturing and processing positions in mainland China.
For explaining the statistical position of this occupation's wage percentiles; OEWS converts annual and hourly wages for most occupations using a standard 2080-hour work year and does not provide conclusions about an individual's actual full-year income, monthly income or take-home pay.
O*NET provides a look-up entry point for certifications and training in this segment, for verifying certificate and training information; this is an information entry point rather than a demand signal, and a training programme itself is not equivalent to hiring or equipment operation authorization.
Editorial compilation of the criteria for verifying position information: a job posting can only indicate one employer's hiring need at one point in time.
A job posting only proves one employer's conditions at one point in time, and the certification entry point does not prove rising demand; the three cannot substitute for one another.
Market signals and adjacent directions for hand cutters and trimmers
The projection is a change in the total size of the occupation, not an individual probability of being hired; openings under this basis include growth and replacement and do not mean positions immediately increase or decrease.
The certification and training entry point does not predict the number of positions or wage levels, and is not equivalent to hiring or equipment operation authorization.
A job posting does not represent national demand, the median wage or unified entry requirements.
Editorial task mapping (not evidence of successful transfer): shared abilities: knowledge of material cutting, and understanding of dimensions and specifications. This holds only where the actual material and process experience matches; it must be verified with a sample of target positions.
To build: cutting and slicing machine setup, tool and feed parameters, and batch monitoring ability.
Distance note: moving from cutting with hand and hand-held tools to fixed machine setup and batch production.
Editorial task mapping (not evidence of successful transfer): shared abilities: cutting to drawing and size, and self-inspection of quality. This holds only where the actual material and process experience matches; it must be verified with a sample of target positions.
To build: punching and shearing dies, metal and plastic sheet processing, and equipment safety ability.
Mainly a move from hand tools/hand-held power tools to metal and plastic punching, shearing and pressing equipment and dies; this occupation also covers metal and bench tools, so an absolute boundary cannot be drawn on the basis of "flexible materials".
Editorial task mapping (not evidence of successful transfer): shared abilities: hand tool operation, and surface quality and feel judgement. This holds only where the actual material and process experience matches; it must be verified with a sample of target positions.
To build: surface treatment processes, and abrasive and polishing material selection ability.
A move to a process whose main purpose is surface treatment, but both occupations may trim, measure dimensions and inspect; the target abrasives, tools and standards must be added separately.
Editorial task mapping (not evidence of successful transfer): shared abilities: material handling, work-in-progress flow and takt awareness. This holds only where the actual material and process experience matches; it must be verified with a sample of target positions.
To build: machine loading and unloading operation, takt coordination and basic equipment understanding.
A move from the main tasks of cutting and trimming to the main tasks of feeding/offbearing; the feeding occupation may equally inspect, record and operate controls, and cannot be reduced to zero quality or equipment responsibility.
Editorial task mapping (not evidence of successful transfer): shared abilities: understanding material characteristics, hand tool operation and forming feel. This holds only where the actual material and process experience matches; it must be verified with a sample of target positions.
To build: die use, casting and forming process ability.
Distance note: moving from cutting and trimming a given material to forming and casting.
Editorial task mapping: pattern/size and piece quality experience can only be shared where the current position actually works with textile materials; stone or glass cutting does not automatically confer textile experience.
To build: marker planning, multilayer cutting and textile cutting machine operation ability.
Distance note: moving from single-piece manual cutting to pattern marking and batch piece cutting.
Editorial task mapping: only actual textile material experience may be partly shared; general manual cutting cannot be used to infer that sewing and stitch processes have been mastered.
To build: sewing machine operation, and stitch and seaming process ability.
Distance note: moving from piece cutting to sewing and joining.
Editorial task mapping: actual shoe material cutting, specification verification and hand tool experience may be partly shared; experience with other materials does not automatically match shoe component assembly and seaming.
To build: shoe-making machine operation, shoe component assembly and process ability.
Distance note: moving from general material cutting to shoe-making specific processes.
BLS2025 employment and 2025—2035 change; O*NET period-average annual openings, all under 51-9031's own occupational basis.
An official entry point for looking up certification and training information; it does not predict the number of positions or wage levels.
Observation points for preparation level, industry distribution and education feedback (O*NET 51-9031.00).
For the tasks and work context of this U.S. occupation 51-9031.00; adjacent tasks are checked separately against the actual target occupational profile, and this position's profile is not used to prove adjacent preparation levels or equipment operation authorization.
Automatic marker and marking software, computer-numeric and bench cutting equipment, and visual inspection and record drafting tools can reduce some of the actions of marker planning, positioning, cutting and counting; but the feel of the material and defect judgement, first-piece and tolerance confirmation, tool mounting, removal and sharpening, whether surface treatment meets standard, and the decision to stop and escalate still depend on people and remain constrained by work instructions and safety boundaries. O*NET shows that 43% of this occupation perform repetitive motions continually or almost continually and 80% stand continually or almost continually; technical exposure is not the same as organizational adoption or the disappearance of jobs.
What can be verified is change at the task level: three types of task — marker planning and marking, cutting and profiling, and inspection and counting — can be partly handled by tools; this page has no occupation-specific adoption or displacement data.
Measuring, marking and tolerance verification to work order, tool mounting, removal and sharpening, judging whether surface treatment meets standard, defect judgement and separation and grading, and the ability to stop, report and refer according to procedure.
In the U.S. 2025 wage data, the median annual wage is 38,020 dollars (18.28 dollars per hour), with percentiles of 26,630 / 34,050 / 38,020 / 47,850 / 57,870 dollars (hourly 12.80 / 16.37 / 18.28 / 23.01 / 27.82), under O*NET-SOC 51-9031.00's own basis; values broken down by state or area must be looked up on the O*NET local wages page by area and period and cannot be treated as an individual offer; no occupation-level figure was obtained for mainland China, and this page treats it as a gap without substituting industry averages or recruitment samples.
The U.S. preparation level is Job Zone 1-2 (SVP below 6.0), typically requiring a high school education or equivalent with some positions requiring none, and on-the-job training ranging from a few days to a year; official education feedback shows that among new entrants 73% have less than high school, 16% a high school diploma or equivalent and 6% some college; in mainland China, the relevant education plus position operation and safety training is usually required, according to the target employer's rules.
There is no unified national licence in the U.S.; on-the-job training is mostly provided by employers, and there is separate certification and training information to look up; in mainland China, such positions mostly require position operation and safety training according to company requirements, and operating specific equipment may require the unit's work qualification or authorization; specific conditions should be verified against the target employer and current rules.
First complete one exercise using safe materials such as cardboard, fabric or foam — "read the dimensions from a fictional work order — mark and position using a template — cut along the line — measure to check whether the tolerance is exceeded — pick out and mark defects — count and pack" — or one workshop shadowing session, and then verify the object, tolerance requirements and safety boundaries of the target direction.
The O*NET summary and employment trends page (based on BLS 2024—2034 projections, 51-9031.00's own basis) shows about 7,000 people under this basis in 2024, a projection label of Decline (declining -1% or lower) and an annual average of about 600 openings including growth and replacement; the projection is on an occupation-total basis, the work mainly involves manual cutting, trimming and inspection, and it should be verified against local manufacturing and processing orders, product mix and automation investment.
FermatMind career content editorial team (source verification and exercise design)
This round is based on O*NET51-9031 detail pages, national wages and 2025 posting keywords, the BLS2025 2035 occupational data, the National Bureau of Statistics 2025 manufacturing wages, specific provisions of the Work Safety Law, and applicable OSHA machine guarding and hazardous energy standards; the ILO abstract and the NIST voluntary framework provide only broad-scope AI reference.
Source verification for this module: 2026-10-09 (statistical periods of each source are in the register).
Note: this page distinguishes official statistics, industry and employer policies, and editorial compilation; source names and scopes of application are not interchangeable.
For comparison with machine setup and batch monitoring in the cutting and slicing machine setters, operators and tenders direction (adjacent occupation).
Do not merge machine setup duties into this occupation.
2026-10-09 this round read the tasks at the same URL directly: only adjacent task content is supported. The shared abilities and transfer distance are editorial conditional mappings; transfer success rates, learning duration and target recruitment samples were not verified.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page updated in 2026; retrieved 2026-09-19
official source
Occupation-specific
Only supports the machine setup and batch slicing tasks of cutting and slicing machine setters, operators and tenders (adjacent occupation); this occupation centres on cutting and trimming with hand and hand-held tools, and machine setup duties are not merged into this occupation.
2026-10-09
For comparison with pattern marking and batch piece cutting in the textile cutting machine setters, operators and tenders direction (adjacent occupation).
Do not merge pattern marking and batch piece cutting duties into this occupation.
2026-10-09 this round read the tasks at the same URL directly: only adjacent task content is supported. The shared abilities and transfer distance are editorial conditional mappings; transfer success rates, learning duration and target recruitment samples were not verified.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page updated in 2026; retrieved 2026-09-19
official source
Occupation-specific
Only supports the pattern marking and batch piece cutting tasks of textile cutting machine setters, operators and tenders (adjacent occupation); this occupation centres on single-piece measuring and marking and manual trimming, and pattern marking and batch piece cutting duties are not merged into this occupation.
2026-10-09
For comparison with feeding and work-in-progress flow in the machine feeders and offbearers direction (adjacent occupation).
Do not merge feeding and offbearing duties into this occupation.
2026-10-09 this round read the tasks at the same URL directly: only adjacent task content is supported. The shared abilities and transfer distance are editorial conditional mappings; transfer success rates, learning duration and target recruitment samples were not verified.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page updated in 2026; retrieved 2026-09-19
official source
Occupation-specific
Adjacent occupations' tasks overlap with this occupation: the grinding occupation also trims/checks dimensions, and the feeding occupation also inspects, records and performs some control operations. It cannot be inferred that there is no cutting at all, no inspection or no equipment adjustment, or that final release authority is held.
2026-10-09
Supports the employment and projection figures for this occupation (this subcategory's own basis).
Does not include mainland China information and cannot replace mainland China data.
Check this round (2026-10-09): the old 2024–2034 register is retained for out-of-scope historical consumers; the current authorized module this round cites r5-bls-current and r5-onet-current instead.
O*NET OnLine / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
United States
2024—2034 projection period; retrieved 2026-09-19
official statistics
Occupation-specific
The old 2024–2034 register is retained for out-of-scope historical consumers; the current authorized module this round cites r5-bls-current and r5-onet-current instead.
2026-09-19
Supports the classification and employment context of such positions in mainland China.
Do not infer qualification, equipment operation authorization or wage figures from it.
Check this round (2026-10-09): only the gov.cn homepage, with no specific job posting or legal provision evidence; it cannot support a unified education, training duration or licensing conclusion, so specific Work Safety Law provisions are cited instead this round.
Public information from competent authorities and industry sources
Mainland China
Current rules; retrieved 2026-09-19
official guidance
contextual
Only the gov.cn homepage, with no specific job posting or legal provision evidence; it cannot support a unified education, training duration or licensing conclusion, so specific Work Safety Law provisions are cited instead this round.
2026-09-19
For comparison with specialist processes in the shoe machine operator direction (adjacent occupation).
Do not merge shoe-making specific processes into this occupation.
2026-10-09 this round read the tasks at the same URL directly: only adjacent task content is supported. The shared abilities and transfer distance are editorial conditional mappings; transfer success rates, learning duration and target recruitment samples were not verified.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page updated in 2026; retrieved 2026-09-19
official source
Occupation-specific
Only supports the shoe-making specific machine operation and component assembly tasks of shoe machine operators and tenders (adjacent occupation); this occupation centres on cutting and trimming general materials, and shoe-making specific processes are not merged into this occupation.
2026-10-09
For comparison with forming and dies in the molders, shapers and casters direction (adjacent occupation).
Do not merge forming process duties into this occupation.
2026-10-09 this round read the tasks at the same URL directly: only adjacent task content is supported. The shared abilities and transfer distance are editorial conditional mappings; transfer success rates, learning duration and target recruitment samples were not verified.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page updated in 2026; retrieved 2026-09-19
official source
Occupation-specific
Only supports the die and forming and casting tasks of molders, shapers and casters, except metal and plastic (adjacent occupation); this occupation mainly cuts and trims a given material to size, and forming process duties are not merged into this occupation.
2026-10-09
For comparison with sewing and joining in the sewing machine operator direction (adjacent occupation).
Do not merge sewing duties into this occupation.
2026-10-09 this round read the tasks at the same URL directly: only adjacent task content is supported. The shared abilities and transfer distance are editorial conditional mappings; transfer success rates, learning duration and target recruitment samples were not verified.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page updated in 2026; retrieved 2026-09-19
official source
Occupation-specific
Only supports the sewing and joining tasks of sewing machine operators (adjacent occupation); this occupation mainly cuts and trims pieces, and sewing duties are not merged into this occupation.
2026-10-09
For comparison with wood sawing in the sawing machine setter direction (adjacent occupation).
Do not merge sawmill sawing duties into this occupation.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page updated in 2026; retrieved 2026-09-19
official source
Occupation-specific
Only supports the wood sawing and sawmill tasks of sawing machine setters, operators and tenders, wood (adjacent occupation); this occupation mainly cuts finished product materials with hand and hand-held tools, and sawmill sawing duties are not merged into this occupation.
2026-09-19
Supports observation points on entry preparation level, interest code and industry distribution.
Does not constitute any specific employer's hiring conditions or a threshold for mainland China.
Check this round (2026-10-09): the old industry 70%/30% register is not this round's 2025 industry distribution; the education 73/16/6 is respondents' opinion on the education required, not the education composition of new employees.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page updated in 2026; retrieved 2026-09-19
official source
Occupation-specific
The old industry 70%/30% register is not this round's 2025 industry distribution; the education 73/16/6 is respondents' opinion on the education required, not the education composition of new employees.
2026-09-19
For comparison with surface treatment and polishing in the grinding and polishing workers, hand direction (adjacent occupation).
Do not merge surface treatment duties into this occupation.
2026-10-09 this round read the tasks at the same URL directly: only adjacent task content is supported. The shared abilities and transfer distance are editorial conditional mappings; transfer success rates, learning duration and target recruitment samples were not verified.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page updated in 2026; retrieved 2026-09-19
official source
Occupation-specific
Adjacent occupations' tasks overlap with this occupation: the grinding occupation also trims/checks dimensions, and the feeding occupation also inspects, records and performs some control operations. It cannot be inferred that there is no cutting at all, no inspection or no equipment adjustment, or that final release authority is held.
2026-10-09
The interest questionnaire is for self-observation only.
Must not be used as a basis for hiring, assignment or promotion.
O*NET OnLine
United States / general
Current tool; retrieved 2026-09-19
official tool
contextual
The interest questionnaire only describes experience preferences; it does not replace ability, qualification, training or hiring judgments and does not predict work performance.
2026-09-19
Register the detailed levels of public wage statistics in mainland China.
Industry averages must not be written as this occupation's wages.
Check this round (2026-10-09): the homepage is not evidence of precise occupational wages, so this round lists the specific 2025 manufacturing industry background separately.
National Bureau of Statistics
Mainland China
Current release; retrieved 2026-09-19
official statistics
Industry reference
The homepage is not evidence of precise occupational wages, so this round lists the specific 2025 manufacturing industry background separately.
2026-09-19
For explaining governance, record-keeping and human oversight requirements when introducing AI systems.
The framework does not replace safety procedures or the employer's division of responsibility.
Check this round (2026-10-09): the AI RMF is a voluntary framework, not mandatory regulation for cutting positions.
National Institute of Standards and Technology
United States
AI RMF 1.0; retrieved 2026-09-19
institutional framework
contextual
The AI RMF is a voluntary framework, not mandatory regulation for cutting positions.
2026-09-19
For explaining the coverage and conversion basis of wage statistics.
Does not provide individual income conclusions and cannot be used to derive an individual's take-home pay.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
United States
2025 wage data; retrieved 2026-09-19
official statistics
Occupation-specific
Provides a wage statistics entry point published by occupation code and coverage notes; the percentile values on this page are published via the O*NET national wages page (51-9031.00), under this subcategory's own basis; industry average wages must not be treated as this occupation's wages, and percentiles must not be treated as starting pay.
2026-09-19
Supports this occupation's tasks, work context and preparation level.
Contains no technology adoption or job displacement data.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page updated in 2026; retrieved 2026-09-19
official occupation data
Occupation-specific
Supports this occupation's tasks, work activities, abilities, work context percentages, preparation level, interest code and 2024 industry employment shares; it is a single-occupation basis and contains no technology adoption, job displacement or income change data.
2026-09-19
Supports the market signal explanation of employer technology keywords.
Keywords are not the same as adoption rates or ability requirements.
Check this round (2026-10-09): the hot technology page is a posting text source and does not prove actual use in production settings; none of the three 2025 shares is provided.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page updated in 2026; retrieved 2026-09-19
official occupation data
Occupation-specific
The hot technology page is a posting text source and does not prove actual use in production settings; none of the three 2025 shares is provided.
2026-09-19
Register the detailed levels of public wage statistics in mainland China.
No single-occupation figure was obtained for this occupation, and no proxy value is filled in.
Check this round (2026-10-09): 2025 statistical year, released 2026-05-15; the manufacturing industry average is not an occupational wage.
National Bureau of Statistics
Mainland China
2025 release basis; retrieved 2026-09-19
official statistics
Industry reference
2025 statistical year, released 2026-05-15; the manufacturing industry average is not an occupational wage.
2026-09-19
Explains that hourly wages and annual income cannot be directly interchanged.
Does not provide individual income conclusions.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
United States
Current method statement; retrieved 2026-09-19
official methodology
contextual
Explains the OEWS covered population, wage composition and conversion assumptions; it does not provide specific figures for this occupation and is not used to convert hourly wages into individual monthly income.
2026-09-19
For explaining the statistical position and basis of wage percentiles.
OEWS converts annual and hourly wages for most occupations using a standard 2080-hour work year; statistical annualization is not the same as an individual's actual income and must not be used to derive an individual's actual full-year income or take-home pay.
O*NET OnLine / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
United States
2025 wage data; retrieved 2026-09-19
official statistics
Occupation-specific
Publishes this occupation's annual wage percentiles of 26,630 / 34,050 / 38,020 / 47,850 / 57,870 dollars, and also publishes hourly wages (12.80 / 16.37 / 18.28 / 23.01 / 27.82); these values follow 51-9031.00's own basis; percentiles are statistical positions, not skill levels, and cannot be converted into individual monthly income or take-home pay; state- or area-level data must be looked up on that page by area and period.
2026-09-19
Supports the verification entry point for certification and training information.
The entry point does not predict the number of positions or wage levels.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page updated in 2026; retrieved 2026-09-19
official guidance
Occupation-specific
Provides a look-up entry point for certifications and training in this segment, for verifying certificate and training information; this is an information entry point description that does not predict the number of positions or wage levels and does not replace position training and equipment operation authorization requirements in mainland China.
2026-09-19
For explaining the method of measuring task-level exposure.
Task exposure is not the same as automation adoption or job displacement outcomes.
Check this round (2026-10-09): this round verified only the abstract, and the absence of an occupation score in the abstract cannot be used to assert that the full research has no occupation-specific scores.
International Labour Organization
Global
Research publication date; retrieved 2026-09-19
institutional research
contextual
This round verified only the abstract, and the absence of an occupation score in the abstract cannot be used to assert that the full research has no occupation-specific scores.
2026-09-19
Supports tasks, work activities and work context percentages.
Contains no technology adoption, job count or income change data.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page updated in 2026; retrieved 2026-09-19
official source
Occupation-specific
Supports this occupation's (51-9031.00) tasks, work activities and work context percentages; that page is a single-occupation basis and contains no technology adoption or job displacement data.
2026-09-19
For comparison with punching and die operation in the cutting, punching and press machine setters, operators and tenders, metal and plastic direction (adjacent occupation).
Do not merge punching die duties into this occupation.
2026-10-09 this round read the tasks at the same URL directly: only adjacent task content is supported. The shared abilities and transfer distance are editorial conditional mappings; transfer success rates, learning duration and target recruitment samples were not verified.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page updated in 2026; retrieved 2026-09-19
official source
Occupation-specific
Only supports the punching and shearing die tasks of cutting, punching and press machine setters, operators and tenders, metal and plastic (adjacent occupation); this occupation mostly works with finished products such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass and rubber, and punching die duties are not merged into this occupation.
2026-10-09
18 tasks, RC interests, 12 work styles and respondent work context; an updated label does not mean all data belong to the survey year. The education percentages are respondents' opinion on the education needed by new employees, not the education composition of employees; work context is not an accident rate, disease rate or AI adoption rate.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Page Updated 2026; statistical periods labelled separately; retrieved 2026-10-09
official occupation data
Occupation-specific
18 tasks, RC interests, 12 work styles and respondent work context; an updated label does not mean all data belong to the survey year. The education percentages are respondents' opinion on the education needed by new employees, not the education composition of employees; work context is not an accident rate, disease rate or AI adoption rate.
2026-10-09
51-9031 own basis: 5,900 people employed in 2025, projected to decrease by 1,100, or 19%; typical entry requires no formal educational credential, no related experience and short-term on-the-job training. Typical conditions are not the admission rules of every employer; they are not a Chinese threshold and do not prove that AI caused the decline.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
United States
2025 base year, 2025–2035 projection; May 2025 wages; retrieved 2026-10-09
official statistics
Occupation-specific
51-9031 own basis: 5,900 people employed in 2025, projected to decrease by 1,100, or 19%; typical entry requires no formal educational credential, no related experience and short-term on-the-job training. Typical conditions are not the admission rules of every employer; they are not a Chinese threshold and do not prove that AI caused the decline.
2026-10-09
Annual wage 10th/25th/50th/75th/90th percentiles 26,630 / 34,050 / 38,020 / 47,850 / 57,870 dollars; hourly 12.80 / 16.37 / 18.28 / 23.01 / 27.82. Percentiles are not seniority levels or starting pay; there is no interpretation of individual take-home income, area offers or AI causation.
O*NET OnLine
United States
2025 wages; retrieved 2026-10-09
official statistics
Occupation-specific
Annual wage 10th/25th/50th/75th/90th percentiles 26,630 / 34,050 / 38,020 / 47,850 / 57,870 dollars; hourly 12.80 / 16.37 / 18.28 / 23.01 / 27.82. Percentiles are not seniority levels or starting pay; there is no interpretation of individual take-home income, area offers or AI causation.
2026-10-09
Lists Excel, Outlook and Word, with the Percent of Job Postings for all three Not available; no 0 is filled in, and no adoption rate, proficiency, on-site use or generative AI use is inferred.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Full-year 2025 U.S. Lightcast posting text; retrieved 2026-10-09
official occupation data
Occupation-specific
Lists Excel, Outlook and Word, with the Percent of Job Postings for all three Not available; no 0 is filled in, and no adoption rate, proficiency, on-site use or generative AI use is inferred.
2026-10-09
Manufacturing non-private 113,594 yuan and private 76,055 yuan, both pre-tax annual average wages. It covers urban legal entities with 5 or more employees; excluding self-employed individuals and freelancers; non-private does not mean only state-owned enterprises. It serves as industry background only when the employer is actually in manufacturing, and is not a hand cutter's wage, starting pay or percentile.
National Bureau of Statistics
Mainland China
2025 statistical year; released 2026-05-15; retrieved 2026-10-09
official statistics
Industry reference
Manufacturing non-private 113,594 yuan and private 76,055 yuan, both pre-tax annual average wages. It covers urban legal entities with 5 or more employees; excluding self-employed individuals and freelancers; non-private does not mean only state-owned enterprises. It serves as industry background only when the employer is actually in manufacturing, and is not a hand cutter's wage, starting pay or percentile.
2026-10-09
Article 28: take up the position after passing training; Article 29: specialized training for new processes, technologies, materials and equipment; Article 30: only personnel who actually perform special operations obtain qualifications as required; Article 36: maintain safety equipment and do not disable or damage guards; Articles 44–45: hazard notification, labour protection equipment and its correct use. It cannot be presumed from the occupation title that all cutters perform special operations; it does not provide unified education, wages or training duration.
State Administration for Market Regulation (full legal text)
Mainland China
Third amendment on 2021-06-10; retrieved 2026-10-09
official law
contextual
Article 28: take up the position after passing training; Article 29: specialized training for new processes, technologies, materials and equipment; Article 30: only personnel who actually perform special operations obtain qualifications as required; Article 36: maintain safety equipment and do not disable or damage guards; Articles 44–45: hazard notification, labour protection equipment and its correct use. It cannot be presumed from the occupation title that all cutters perform special operations; it does not provide unified education, wages or training duration.
2026-10-09
Applicable in U.S. operations to guard points of operation, nip points, rotating parts and flying chips; special hand tools cannot replace the required guards. It is not a Chinese legal provision or a complete selection guide for personal protective equipment.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
United States
Current standards page; retrieved 2026-10-09
official regulation
contextual
Applicable in U.S. operations to guard points of operation, nip points, rotating parts and flying chips; special hand tools cannot replace the required guards. It is not a Chinese legal provision or a complete selection guide for personal protective equipment.
2026-10-09
Applicable maintenance such as tool changes, cleaning and clearing jams: trained and authorized personnel isolate, control stored energy and verify according to the employer's energy control procedure. A stop button is not an energy isolation device; there are exceptions for qualifying minor servicing and where a plug is under the exclusive control of the maintenance worker, so not every normal production or hand tool operation is written as requiring lockout/tagout.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
United States
Current standards page; retrieved 2026-10-09
official regulation
contextual
Applicable maintenance such as tool changes, cleaning and clearing jams: trained and authorized personnel isolate, control stored energy and verify according to the employer's energy control procedure. A stop button is not an energy isolation device; there are exceptions for qualifying minor servicing and where a plug is under the exclusive control of the maintenance worker, so not every normal production or hand tool operation is written as requiring lockout/tagout.
2026-10-09
The voluntary risk management framework provides direction on human and machine responsibilities and oversight, risk records and assessment; it is not mandatory process regulation, an occupational AI adoption rate or a displacement projection.
National Institute of Standards and Technology
United States
AI RMF 1.0 (2023); retrieved 2026-10-09
institutional framework
contextual
The voluntary risk management framework provides direction on human and machine responsibilities and oversight, risk records and assessment; it is not mandatory process regulation, an occupational AI adoption rate or a displacement projection.
2026-10-09
A global generative AI task exposure reference; this round's abstract did not yield a matching score for 51-9031.00 or a Chinese cutting position sample, and it is not claimed that the full research has no occupation-specific data. Exposure is not the same as measured adoption, degree of automation, net job change or a displacement date.
International Labour Organization
Global
Research abstract of 2025-05-20; retrieved 2026-10-09
institutional research
contextual
A global generative AI task exposure reference; this round's abstract did not yield a matching score for 51-9031.00 or a Chinese cutting position sample, and it is not claimed that the full research has no occupation-specific data. Exposure is not the same as measured adoption, degree of automation, net job change or a displacement date.
2026-10-09