Cut, trim, or prepare consumer-sized portions of meat for use or sale in retail establishments.
Butchers and Meat Cutters
SOC: 51-3021 O*NET: 51-3021.00
Median Salary
$40,140
per year
Job Growth
➡️ 2.4%
Average (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
15.1
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
Cut, trim, or prepare consumer-sized portions of meat for use or sale in retail establishments.
What does a Butchers and Meat Cutters do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$29,460
10th percentile
Early Career
$35,510
25th percentile
Median
$40,140
50th percentile
Experienced
$48,050
75th percentile
Top Earners
$58,110
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$29,460
25th
$35,510
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$40,140
Mean: $42,380
75th
$48,050
90th
$58,110
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $28,650 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $35,510 and $48,050
- •Salary spread is 31.2% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 136,430 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:138,400
Top Industries
Retail Trade85.2%
Food and Beverage Retailers75.8%
Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only)75.8%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+2.4%
Annual Openings:15,100
Employment Projections
2025 (Current)138,400
Current
2035 (Projected)141,700
+2.4%
+3,300
Employment Change
+2.4%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: As fast as average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Butchers and Meat Cutters professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
California
18,700 jobs$44,2901.17x
Texas
11,260 jobs$37,4000.91x
Florida
10,590 jobs$42,7901.22x
Illinois
7,710 jobs$39,2401.44x
Ohio
5,640 jobs$37,6301.16x
New Jersey
4,610 jobs$38,5401.23x
New York
4,540 jobs$47,0800.53x
Iowa
4,480 jobs$37,7503.27x
Georgia
4,420 jobs$38,5401.03x
Michigan
4,230 jobs$39,3501.09x
Pennsylvania
3,540 jobs$38,3400.67x
Wisconsin
3,510 jobs$45,9801.36x
North Carolina
3,120 jobs$38,2400.72x
Washington
2,660 jobs$51,6700.85x
Tennessee
2,650 jobs$39,9600.92x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025
Key Growth Factors
- •Average growth expected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Active Listening
100%
#2
Customer and Personal Service
100%
#3
Manual Dexterity
100%
#4
Social Perceptiveness
92%
#5
Near Vision
92%
#6
Critical Thinking
82%
#7
Arm-Hand Steadiness
82%
#8
Food Production
80%
#9
Speaking
74%
#10
Oral Expression
74%
Skills Overview
Active Listening
advanced5.0
100%
Customer and Personal Service
advanced5.0
100%
Manual Dexterity
advanced5.0
100%
Social Perceptiveness
advanced4.6
92%
Near Vision
advanced4.6
92%
Critical Thinking
intermediate4.1
82%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
intermediate4.1
82%
Food Production
intermediate4.0
80%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Active Listening
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Customer and Personal Service
advancedImportance100%
knowledge
5.0/5.0
Manual Dexterity
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
advancedImportance92%
skills
4.6/5.0
Near Vision
advancedImportance92%
abilities
4.6/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance82%
abilities
4.1/5.0
Arm-Hand Steadiness
intermediateImportance82%
abilities
4.1/5.0
Food Production
intermediateImportance80%
knowledge
4.0/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance74%
skills
3.7/5.0
Oral Expression
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Oral Comprehension
intermediateImportance66%
abilities
3.3/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Postal Service Clerks100%
5 shared skills
File Clerks89%
5 shared skills
Parking Enforcement Workers89%
5 shared skills
Actors88%
5 shared skills
Animal Control Workers80%
5 shared skills
Cooks, Private Household80%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Customer and Personal Service
- ✓Food Production
Learn on the Job:
- →Monitoring
- →Service Orientation
- →Production and Processing
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Customer and Personal Service
- ✓Food Production
- ✓Critical Thinking
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Active Listening
- ★Social Perceptiveness
- ★Customer and Personal Service
- ★Food Production
- ★Critical Thinking
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Butchers and Meat Cutters
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
11
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (5)Documentation & Record-Keeping (5)Management & Supervision (1)
1
Wrap, weigh, label, and price cuts of meat.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Prepare and place meat cuts and products in display counter to appear attractive and catch the shopper's eye.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping97% perform98%
3
Prepare special cuts of meat ordered by customers.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping94% perform96%
4
Cut, trim, bone, tie, and grind meats, such as beef, pork, poultry, and fish, to prepare in cooking form.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping91% perform94%
5
Receive, inspect, and store meat upon delivery to ensure meat quality.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Shape, lace, and tie roasts, using boning knife, skewer, and twine.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Estimate requirements and order or requisition meat supplies to maintain inventories.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping82% perform88%
8
Supervise other butchers or meat cutters.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision79% perform86%
9
Record quantity of meat received and issued to cooks or keep records of meat sales.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping76% perform84%
10
Negotiate with representatives from supply companies to determine order details.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •64% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Butchers and Meat Cutters
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Butchers and Meat Cutters professionals typically have a RCE Holland code and highly value relationships
RRealistic
CConventional
EEnterprising
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Butchers and Meat Cutters
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.42
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.31
Integrity
Very ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level4.21
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.10
Self-Control
ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level3.99
Initiative
ImportantInitiative
Importance Level3.85
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
4.4
Cooperation
4.3
Integrity
4.2
Attention to Detail
4.1
Self-Control
4.0
Initiative
3.9
Stress Tolerance
3.8
Adaptability/Flexibility
3.7
Independence
3.7
Concern for Others
3.7
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Explore educational programs that can help you become a Butchers and Meat Cutters.
Browse Training Programs →The Apprenticeship Route: Earn While You Learn
You don't necessarily need to pay for school to enter this field. There are 27 registered apprenticeship sponsors for this occupation in the U.S. DOL system — including 3 union/joint labor-management programs. Apprentices earn a wage from day one, typically starting at 40–50% of the journeyman rate, and finish with no tuition debt.
Most sponsors: IA (4) , MT (4) , GU (2) , ID (2) , IL (2)
How apprenticeships work →Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship sponsors (apprenticeship.gov)
Trade Colleges That Train for Butchers and Meat Cutters
Top trade colleges by completions in fields that prepare students for this career.
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN
2.4k program completions/year
South Florida Institute of Technology
Miami, FL
1.4k program completions/year
Texas State Technical College
Waco, TX
1.4k program completions/year
Tulsa Welding School-Houston
Houston, TX
1.1k program completions/year
River Parishes Community College
Gonzales, LA
1.1k program completions/year
Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL
1.1k program completions/year
Refrigeration School Inc
Phoenix, AZ
863 program completions/year
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Lexington, KY
789 program completions/year
Maysville Community and Technical College
Maysville, KY
776 program completions/year
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, IA
685 program completions/year
Arclabs
Piedmont, SC
669 program completions/year
John C Calhoun State Community College
Tanner, AL
649 program completions/year