How to become a meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers

Use hands or hand tools to perform routine cutting and trimming of meat, poultry, and seafood.

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 meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers do

• Use knives, cleavers, meat saws, bandsaws, or other equipment to perform meat cutting and trimming.
• Inspect meat products for defects, bruises or blemishes and remove them along with any excess fat.
• Weigh meats and tag containers for weight and contents.
• Cut and trim meat to prepare for packing.
• Separate meats and byproducts into specified containers and seal containers.

Skills that matter most

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

Is meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 25% 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

• Colorado $50,390
• Arizona $48,550
• Kansas $48,080
• Nebraska $47,580
• North Dakota $47,250

Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers 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.