paper cutter operator
Paper cutter operators tend a machine that cuts paper to the desired size and shape. Paper cutters may also cut and perforate other materials that come in sheets, such as metal foil.
paper cutter operator paper cutter operators tend a machine that cuts paper to the desired size and shape. Paper cutters may also cut and perforate other materials that come in sheets, such as metal foil. The role shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include types of paper, quality standards, sizes of paper, keep sheet records, lift stacks of paper.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £30,360 a year for Paper and wood machine operatives (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 8131). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Plant and machine operators and assemblers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only paper cutter operator, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 8. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
What you'd actually do
- Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
- Review work orders, blueprints, specifications, or job samples to determine components, settings, and adjustments for cutting and slicing machines.
- Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices, such as rulers, micrometers, or scales.
- Press buttons, pull levers, or depress pedals to start and operate cutting and slicing machines.
- Start machines to verify setups, and make any necessary adjustments.
- Feed stock into cutting machines, onto conveyors, or under cutting blades, by threading, guiding, pushing, or turning handwheels.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does paper cutter operator do?
Paper cutter operators tend a machine that cuts paper to the desired size and shape. Paper cutters may also cut and perforate other materials that come in sheets, such as metal foil.
What skills does paper cutter operator need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include types of paper, quality standards, sizes of paper, keep sheet records, lift stacks of paper, troubleshoot. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace paper cutter operator?
Our AI-durability model gives paper cutter operator a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.