How to become a butchers and meat cutter

Cut, trim, or prepare consumer-sized portions of meat for use or sale in retail establishments.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What butchers and meat cutters do

• Prepare and place meat cuts and products in display counter to appear attractive and catch the shopper's eye.
• Prepare special cuts of meat ordered by customers.
• Receive, inspect, and store meat upon delivery to ensure meat quality.
• Shape, lace, and tie roasts, using boning knife, skewer, and twine.
• Wrap, weigh, label, and price cuts of meat.
• Cut, trim, bone, tie, and grind meats, such as beef, pork, poultry, and fish, to prepare in cooking form.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring
• Active Learning
• Mathematics
• Writing

Is butchers and meat cutter a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 21% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Washington $51,670
• Alaska $50,450
• Hawaii $50,080
• Oregon $49,360
• District of Columbia $48,760

Butchers and Meat Cutters salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.