How To Become A Trimmer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a trimmer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Trimmers are responsible for trimming, loading, sorting, and inspecting raw vegetables in line with the client's specifications and according to trimming and processing applications. They check and get rid of foreign objects and contaminants that may be in the product. They ensure work floors and machines are clear of debris and excess water. In some jobs, the duties they perform include pruning treetops, maintaining damaged trees by trimming or removal, and removing broken branches from wires, roofs, and the likes. Additionally, they maintain, prepare and operate all tools and equipment.

The minimum educational requirement for this role is a high school diploma or its equivalent. Employers require you to have at least a year of relevant work experience. You must possess communication, mechanical, attention to detail, and multitasking skills. The average salary a trimmer makes per year is $32,980, which is $15.86 per hour. This falls between the range of $22,000 and $49,000.

ScoreTrimmerUS Average

Salary

2.5

Avg. Salary $31,600

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

8.6

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.78%

Asian 1.02%

Black or African American 7.54%

Hispanic or Latino 20.07%

Unknown 4.74%

White 64.86%

Gender

female 44.38%

male 55.62%

Age - 36

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 - 36

Stress Level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.5

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

3.2

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a trimmer

Explore trimmer education requirements

Most common trimmer degrees

High School Diploma

51.2 %

Diploma

16.0 %

Associate

13.8 %

Start to develop specific trimmer skills

Skills	Percentages
Ladders	30.76%
PPE	15.97%
Hand Tools	12.96%
Wedges	9.35%
CDL	8.88%

Complete relevant trimmer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New trimmers 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 trimmer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real trimmer resumes.

Research trimmer duties and responsibilities

Operate power equipment, such as chippers, aerial lifts, power saws, ladders and hand tools.
Trim beef clod, brisket, and flap meat.
Comply with safety standards and regulations.
Spice ribs, chicken, and brisket.

Prepare your trimmer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your trimmer 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 trimmer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Trimmer Resume templates

Build a professional Trimmer 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 Trimmer resume.

Apply for trimmer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a trimmer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do trimmers rate their job?