How To Become A Trimming Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a trimming operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a trimming operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $18.73 an hour? That's $38,952 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -5% and produce -45,900 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreTrimming OperatorUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,952

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.8

Growth rate -5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.38%

Asian 6.44%

Black or African American 11.32%

Hispanic or Latino 13.14%

Unknown 3.54%

White 64.17%

Gender

female 36.57%

male 63.43%

Age - 48

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48

Stress level

6.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a trimming operator

Explore trimming operator education requirements

Most common trimming operator degrees

High School Diploma

43.8 %

Associate

28.8 %

Bachelor's

12.3 %

Start to develop specific trimming operator skills

Skills	Percentages
Air Tools	40.98%
Customer Specifications	32.84%
Hand Tools	9.29%
Quality Checks	7.41%
Machine Operation	5.15%

Complete relevant trimming operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New trimming operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a trimming operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real trimming operator resumes.

Research trimming operator duties and responsibilities

Achieve enhancement in shop math: trigonometry, compound angles, and geometry.
Operate a trim press on a production line for crank shafts and spindles.
Trim access metal off parts coming from die cast machine -Operate CNC die cast machine
Operate Co2 and YAG lasers for precision tolerance production marking, machining and welding.

Prepare your trimming operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your trimming operator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a trimming operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable trimming operator resume templates

Build a professional trimming operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your trimming operator resume.