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Cutter operator salary
Average cutter operator salary
$16.33
Average Cutter Operator Salary
The average salary for a Cutter Operator in the United States is $33,960 per year or around $16 per hour. Factors influencing this salary include the operator's level of experience, the specific industry they work in, and the geographic location of their employment.
How Much Does a Cutter Operator Make?
Entry-level positions may start around $28,000 annually, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $40,000. This salary can vary significantly depending on the company and the complexity of the tasks performed.
Where Can a Cutter Operator Earn More?
States such as California and New York often offer higher salaries for Cutter Operators due to the higher cost of living and demand in these regions. Additionally, industries like manufacturing and construction typically provide better compensation than other sectors.
Cutter Operator Salary Estimates from Across the Web
According to various salary aggregate sites, Cutter Operators may see salary ranges from $28,000 to $45,000, depending on their roles and responsibilities. Understanding these variations can help job seekers negotiate better offers.
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Where can a Cutter Operator earn more?
Cutter operator salaries by experience level
Cutter operator salary estimates from across the web
Average cutter operator salary by state
The average cutter operator salary in Alaska, North Dakota, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average cutter operator salary states are North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for cutter operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $45,842 | $22.04 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $38,714 | $18.61 |
| 3 | Nebraska | $41,069 | $19.74 |
| 4 | Iowa | $39,429 | $18.96 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $39,548 | $19.01 |
| 6 | Maine | $40,770 | $19.60 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $39,393 | $18.94 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $44,592 | $21.44 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $39,820 | $19.14 |
| 11 | Illinois | $39,481 | $18.98 |
| 12 | Idaho | $40,013 | $19.24 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $41,118 | $19.77 |
| 14 | Utah | $37,018 | $17.80 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $36,124 | $17.37 |
| 16 | Washington | $41,157 | $19.79 |
| 17 | Oregon | $39,746 | $19.11 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $37,982 | $18.26 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $35,772 | $17.20 |
| 20 | Nevada | $36,616 | $17.60 |
| 21 | Montana | $38,750 | $18.63 |
| 22 | Kansas | $35,831 | $17.23 |
| 23 | Michigan | $35,335 | $16.99 |
| 24 | Ohio | $33,286 | $16.00 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $34,984 | $16.82 |
| 26 | Indiana | $32,780 | $15.76 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $36,151 | $17.38 |
| 28 | Vermont | $35,102 | $16.88 |
| 29 | California | $37,006 | $17.79 |
| 30 | Arizona | $34,829 | $16.74 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $36,396 | $17.50 |
| 32 | Colorado | $35,937 | $17.28 |
| 33 | Texas | $32,868 | $15.80 |
| 34 | Missouri | $32,513 | $15.63 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $30,611 | $14.72 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $34,019 | $16.36 |
| 37 | Georgia | $30,839 | $14.83 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $30,976 | $14.89 |
| 39 | Delaware | $33,447 | $16.08 |
| 40 | New York | $33,877 | $16.29 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $30,265 | $14.55 |
| 42 | Maryland | $34,212 | $16.45 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $30,327 | $14.58 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $31,657 | $15.22 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $31,012 | $14.91 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $27,500 | $13.22 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $28,792 | $13.84 |
| 48 | Virginia | $32,324 | $15.54 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $30,031 | $14.44 |
| 50 | Alabama | $28,545 | $13.72 |
| 51 | Florida | $29,144 | $14.01 |
Highest paying cities for cutter operators
The highest-paying cities for cutter operators are Grand Forks, ND, Sheboygan, WI, and Manchester, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Forks, ND | $44,906 | $21.59 |
| 2 | Sheboygan, WI | $39,236 | $18.86 |
| 3 | Manchester, CT | $36,680 | $17.63 |
| 4 | Gardena, CA | $36,472 | $17.53 |
| 5 | Holland, MI | $35,648 | $17.14 |
| 6 | Hobart, IN | $34,725 | $16.69 |
| 7 | Mansfield, TX | $32,953 | $15.84 |
| 8 | Jefferson City, MO | $32,372 | $15.56 |
| 9 | Winston-Salem, NC | $30,504 | $14.67 |
| 10 | Clearwater, FL | $29,326 | $14.10 |
| 11 | Chattanooga, TN | $27,168 | $13.06 |
Cutter operator salary details
A cutter operator's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $41,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a cutter operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| Average | $33,960 | $2,830 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying cutter operator jobs
The highest paying types of cutter operators are terminal operator, mill operator, and grinder operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | $32,452 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 120,073 |
| Assembling Machine Operator | $31,275 | $2,606 | $15.04 | 87,253 |
| Handle Machine Operator | $29,598 | $2,467 | $14.23 | 110,258 |
| Warehouse Machine Operator | $33,796 | $2,816 | $16.25 | 229,051 |
| Forklift Operator | $34,213 | $2,851 | $16.45 | 213,020 |
| Assembly Operator | $31,928 | $2,661 | $15.35 | 87,293 |
Top companies hiring cutter operators now:
Which companies pay cutter operators the most?
Cutter operator salaries at Schreiber Foods and J.R. Simplot are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average cutter operator salary at companies like Lamb Weston and Valmont Industries are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schreiber Foods | $42,415 | $20.39 |
| 2 | J.R. Simplot | $42,298 | $20.34 |
| 3 | Lamb Weston | $39,940 | $19.20 |
| 4 | Valmont Industries | $38,696 | $18.60 |
| 5 | GSP | $38,527 | $18.52 |
| 6 | WestRock | $38,358 | $18.44 |
| 7 | Graphic Packaging International | $37,454 | $18.01 |
| 8 | Southern Champion Tray | $37,322 | $17.94 |
| 9 | A&S Kinard | $36,911 | $17.75 |
| 10 | ABC Imaging | $36,721 | $17.65 |
| 11 | Ashland | $36,623 | $17.61 |
| 12 | Brunswick | $36,376 | $17.49 |
| 13 | Fort Dearborn | $36,339 | $17.47 |
| 14 | Quad | $36,139 | $17.37 |
| 15 | Mittera | $36,106 | $17.36 |
| 16 | SG360 | $36,060 | $17.34 |
| 17 | Vivid Inc | $36,005 | $17.31 |
| 18 | The Wood Company | $36,005 | $17.31 |
| 19 | Jostens | $35,490 | $17.06 |
| 20 | Allied Printing | $33,951 | $16.32 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Cutter Operator salary by industry
The average cutter operator salary varies across industries:
- The average cutter operator salary in the automotive industry is $40,054, the highest of any industry.
- The average cutter operator salary in the finance industry is $38,682.
- Cutter operators in the retail industry earn an average salary of $30,902, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for cutter operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $40,054 | $19.26 |
| 2 | Construction | $38,682 | $18.60 |
| 3 | Agriculture | $37,981 | $18.26 |
| 4 | Transportation | $37,156 | $17.86 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $35,589 | $17.11 |
| 6 | Retail | $30,902 | $14.86 |
High paying cutter operator jobs
Cutter operator salary trends
The average cutter operator salary has risen by $6,826 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average cutter operator earned $27,134 annually, but today, they earn $33,960 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for cutter operators over the last decade.
Compare cutter operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average cutter operator salary over time
Compare cutter operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Cutter operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,000 | $16.33 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $32,700 | $15.74 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $31,400 | $15.11 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $30,400 | $14.62 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $29,300 | $14.11 | +1.1% |
Recently added cutter operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surestaff | Flat Cutter Operator | Bartlett, IL | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| The Bradley Group | Laser/Plasma Cutter Operator | Denton, NC | 06/23/2025 | $33,392 |
| McCain Foods | Cutter Operator | Burley, ID | 06/07/2025 | $44,161 |
| Manpowergroup | Laser Cutter Operator-Experience | Scott City, MO | 05/22/2025 | $31,305 |
| Aerotek | Cutter Operator Direct | Loveland, OH | 05/16/2025 | $35,360 |
| McCain Foods USA | Easton-Cutter Operator-7Am-7Pm (36018) | Easton, ME | 05/04/2025 | $46,978 |
| Vericast | Cutter Operator-2Nd Shift | Jeffersonville, IN | 04/30/2025 | $35,479 |
| Mittera | Cutter Operator-Experienced | Denver, CO | 04/28/2025 | $50,088 |
| Digital Room Inc. | Cutter Operator | Leading Print Manufacturing Company | Ione, CA | 04/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Simplot | Cutter Operator (Crew A) | Ontario, OR | 04/27/2025 | $55,702 |
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