SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Cutters and Trimmers, Hand

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Cloth Cutter
  • Denim Cutter
  • Fabric Cutter
  • Finisher
  • Glass Cutter
  • Hand Cutter
  • Leather Cutter
  • Offline Cutter
Take the free assessment Compare salaries

What is a cutters and trimmers, hand?

Cutters and Trimmers, Hand are skilled workers responsible for cutting, trimming, and finishing a variety of materials including cloth, paper, or leather by hand. They utilize various tools such as scissors, knives, or blades to achieve accurate cuts based on specified dimensions or patterns. Their work is crucial in various industries, particularly in textiles and garment manufacturing, where precision and attention to detail are essential for creating high-quality products. These professionals often review specifications, take measurements, and ensure that their cuts are clean to maintain the integrity of the material being worked on. After cutting, they may also perform finishing tasks such as trimming excess material, removing threads, or ensuring edges are neat. Their ability to work meticulously and their understanding of different materials help ensure that the final product meets the required standards and expectations.

What the work actually is

  • Mark or discard items with defects such as spots, stains, scars, snags, chips, scratches, or unacceptable shapes or finishes.
  • Trim excess material or cut threads off finished products, such as cutting loose ends of plastic off a manufactured toy for a smoother finish.
  • Cut, shape, and trim materials, such as textiles, food, glass, stone, and metal, using knives, scissors, and other hand tools, portable power tools, or bench-mounted tools.
  • Position templates or measure materials to locate specified points of cuts or to obtain maximum yields, using rules, scales, or patterns.
  • Read work orders to determine dimensions, cutting locations, and quantities to cut.

Skills employers expect

Abilities

  • Manual Dexterity The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Information Ordering The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Category Flexibility The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Knowledge

  • Production and Processing Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Advertisement

Get a Well-Paying Job Fast

Start Your Career

Get Started

How people get into it

Education of new hires

Less than high school diploma
High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Some college, no degree

A normal week

  • Handling and Moving Objects
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Getting Information

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel
  • Electronic mail software Microsoft Outlook
  • Word processing software Microsoft Word

Tools

  • Razor knives Carpet cutters · Carpet knives · Carpet trimmers
  • Saws Handsaws · Jab saws · Utility saws
  • Rotary paper or fabric cutter Cordless cutters · Rotary cutters
  • Metal cutters Tack strip cutters · Wire duct cutting tools
  • Power saws Cut-off saws · Foam rubber cutter

Who it suits

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

🚀 Find Your Dream Job with JobCopilot

AI-powered job search that matches you with opportunities tailored to your skills and career goals.

Start Job Search

Does this career fit you?

A free assessment matches your answers to careers, and shows the salary that goes with each one.

Start free

Questions people ask

How much does a cutters and trimmers, hand earn in South Africa?

Cutters and Trimmers, Hand salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What is a cutters and trimmers, hand?

Mark or discard items with defects such as spots, stains, scars, snags, chips, scratches, or unacceptable shapes or finishes, Trim excess material or cut threads off finished products, such as cutting loose ends of plastic off a manufactured toy for a smoother finish and Cut, shape, and trim materials, such as textiles, food, glass, stone, and metal, using knives, scissors, and other hand tools, portable power tools, or bench-mounted tools.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.