Prevailing Wage for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
Prevailing wage for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand (SOC 51-9031) is set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether your offer is for a Fabric Cutter, Glass Cutter, or Cloth Cutter role, DOL assigns four experience levels and the floor shifts considerably depending on which U.S. city the worksite is in.
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Entry-level filing for workers new to hand-cutting or trimming work, typically with less than two years of experience, performing routine tasks under close supervision with limited autonomy over material selection, cutting techniques, or quality decisions.
The most common filing level for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand. Workers have practical experience across multiple materials or product types, work with moderate supervision, and can independently handle standard cutting or trimming tasks without step-by-step guidance.
Experienced cutters who apply specialized skill across complex materials or tight-tolerance work, operate with significant independence, may mentor junior staff, and are expected to troubleshoot equipment and quality issues without direct oversight.
Fully competent professionals in senior or lead cutting roles, setting production standards, overseeing workflow for a team of cutters, and accountable for quality outcomes across an entire product line or manufacturing cell.
Prevailing Wage for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
Watch for title mismatches on your LCA
Employers sometimes file LCAs under a broader production or manufacturing SOC rather than 51-9031, which can set a different wage floor. Confirm your LCA lists SOC 51-9031 and the Cutters and Trimmers, Hand title before signing any offer.
Compare Boston and Dalton wages before relocating
The prevailing wage floor for this occupation varies dramatically by worksite city. A Fabric Cutter position in Boston carries a significantly higher floor than the same role in Dalton, GA, so city choice materially affects whether an offer is compliant.
Verify your level if you specialize in one material
Employers filing for glass, carpet, or denim cutting specialists sometimes underclaim experience by filing at Level 1 for workers who consistently handle complex or high-tolerance material. If your work requires precision finishing, Level 2 or Level 3 may better reflect your scope.
Find employers that have sponsored this role on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Cutters and Trimmers, Hand positions, so you can focus your search on companies already familiar with the LCA and visa process for this specific occupation rather than starting from scratch.
Jobs for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Cutters and Trimmers, HandPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-9031.00 alongside Cutters and Trimmers, Hand, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Cloth Cutter Prevailing Wage
Cloth Cutter Prevailing Wage
Cloth Cutter positions fall under SOC 51-9031.00 (Cutters and Trimmers, Hand). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Denim Cutter Prevailing Wage
Denim Cutter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Denim Cutter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9031.00 (Cutters and Trimmers, Hand). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fabric Cutter Prevailing Wage
Fabric Cutter Prevailing Wage
Fabric Cutter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9031.00 (Cutters and Trimmers, Hand). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Finisher Prevailing Wage
Finisher Prevailing Wage
Finisher positions fall under SOC 51-9031.00 (Cutters and Trimmers, Hand). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Glass Cutter Prevailing Wage
Glass Cutter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Glass Cutter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9031.00 (Cutters and Trimmers, Hand). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Hand Cutter Prevailing Wage
Hand Cutter Prevailing Wage
Hand Cutter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9031.00 (Cutters and Trimmers, Hand). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Leather Cutter Prevailing Wage
Leather Cutter Prevailing Wage
Leather Cutter positions fall under SOC 51-9031.00 (Cutters and Trimmers, Hand). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Offline Cutter Prevailing Wage
Offline Cutter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Offline Cutter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9031.00 (Cutters and Trimmers, Hand). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Sample Cutter Prevailing Wage
Sample Cutter Prevailing Wage
Sample Cutter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9031.00 (Cutters and Trimmers, Hand). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Trimmer positions fall under SOC 51-9031.00 (Cutters and Trimmers, Hand). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from employer surveys across hundreds of metro areas. For SOC 51-9031, DOL then assigns one of four wage levels based on experience, supervision, and complexity. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored Cutters and Trimmers, Hand position must offer at least the applicable level wage for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL's four levels reflect increasing experience and responsibility. Level 1 covers entry workers under close supervision; Level 2 covers qualified workers with practical independence; Level 3 covers experienced workers handling complex tasks or mentoring others; Level 4 covers fully competent leads or senior specialists. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision structure in your job offer, not just your years of experience. Review the LCA your employer files to confirm the level they selected.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same cutting role vary so much from city to city?
DOL uses regional OES survey data, so the wage floor reflects actual employer pay in each metro area rather than a single national figure. A worksite in a high-cost manufacturing hub like Boston sets a higher floor than one in a lower-wage region like Dalton, GA. Critically, the prevailing wage is tied to the worksite address listed on the LCA, not where the company is headquartered, so a remote or multi-site arrangement requires careful worksite classification.
What happens if a sponsored job offer is below the prevailing wage for Cutters and Trimmers, Hand?
DOL will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. Without a certified LCA, USCIS cannot approve the underlying visa petition. If an offer is below the floor, the employer must either raise the offered wage to meet it or refile at a lower level if the job duties genuinely support a lower classification. Accepting a below-floor offer does not make the filing valid.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Cutters and Trimmers, Hand position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 51-9031 at your specific worksite metro area across all four levels. Cross-check with the O*NET occupation profile to confirm the SOC code matches your actual duties. For finding employers that have already sponsored this role, Migrate Mate filters sponsored job listings by occupation and location, showing each employer's historical sponsorship counts.
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