Use hands or hand tools to perform routine cutting and trimming of meat, poultry, and seafood.
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
SOC: 51-3022 O*NET: 51-3022.00
Median Salary
$37,700
per year
Job Growth
📈 5.5%
Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
18.4
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or less
Job Zone 1
Use hands or hand tools to perform routine cutting and trimming of meat, poultry, and seafood.
What does a Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$29,200
10th percentile
Early Career
$34,050
25th percentile
Median
$37,700
50th percentile
Experienced
$43,450
75th percentile
Top Earners
$48,680
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$29,200
25th
$34,050
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$37,700
Mean: $38,640
75th
$43,450
90th
$48,680
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $19,480 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $34,050 and $43,450
- •Salary spread is 24.9% around the median, showing low variation
- •Total national employment: 141,090 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:146,800
Top Industries
Manufacturing78.6%
Food Manufacturing78.5%
Animal Slaughtering and Processing72.8%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+5.5%
Annual Openings:18,400
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)146,800
Current
2034 (Projected)154,900
+5.5%
+8,100
Employment Change
+5.5%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: As fast as average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
Georgia
12,350 jobs$38,0102.78x
Alabama
9,560 jobs$28,3805.00x
North Carolina
9,420 jobs$36,6502.10x
Arkansas
9,350 jobs$36,2907.93x
California
7,740 jobs$36,7900.47x
Nebraska
7,660 jobs$47,9008.24x
Mississippi
6,470 jobs$34,6006.10x
Texas
6,360 jobs$34,9000.50x
Delaware
5,770 jobs$34,06013.23x
Colorado
4,870 jobs$01.84x
Kansas
4,520 jobs$46,0203.45x
Illinois
4,310 jobs$39,4200.78x
Missouri
3,900 jobs$42,1401.46x
Washington
3,570 jobs$39,6601.10x
Minnesota
3,390 jobs$39,8301.27x
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 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Average growth expected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Active Listening
100%
#2
Monitoring
86%
#3
Critical Thinking
70%
#4
Speaking
56%
#5
Judgment and Decision Making
40%
Skills Overview
Active Listening
advanced5.0
100%
Monitoring
intermediate4.3
86%
Critical Thinking
intermediate3.5
70%
Speaking
basic2.8
56%
Judgment and Decision Making
basic2.0
40%
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
Monitoring
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance70%
abilities
3.5/5.0
Speaking
basicImportance56%
skills
2.8/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
basicImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers80%
4 shared skills
Bailiffs71%
5 shared skills
Furniture Finishers71%
5 shared skills
Craft Artists67%
4 shared skills
Animal Breeders63%
5 shared skills
Bakers63%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Monitoring
Learn on the Job:
- →Speaking
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Monitoring
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Active Listening
- ★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 Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
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 Excel
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Excel
📚 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
SOME 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 some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
12
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
Operations & Execution (1)General Responsibilities (9)Documentation & Record-Keeping (2)
1
Use knives, cleavers, meat saws, bandsaws, or other equipment to perform meat cutting and trimming.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution100% perform100%
2
Clean, trim, slice, and section carcasses for future processing.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Cut and trim meat to prepare for packing.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping94% perform96%
4
Remove parts, such as skin, feathers, scales or bones, from carcass.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Inspect meat products for defects, bruises or blemishes and remove them along with any excess fat.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Produce hamburger meat and meat trimmings.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Process primal parts into cuts that are ready for retail use.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Obtain and distribute specified meat or carcass.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Separate meats and byproducts into specified containers and seal containers.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Weigh meats and tag containers for weight and contents.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on operations & execution activities
- •58% 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 Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
💡 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?
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers professionals typically have a RCI Holland code and highly value support
RRealistic
CConventional
IInvestigative
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.43
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.40
Achievement/Effort
Very ImportantAchievement/Effort
Importance Level4.03
Integrity
ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level3.91
Independence
ImportantIndependence
Importance Level3.88
Initiative
ImportantInitiative
Importance Level3.85
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
4.4
Attention to Detail
4.4
Achievement/Effort
4.0
Integrity
3.9
Independence
3.9
Initiative
3.9
Stress Tolerance
3.8
Persistence
3.8
Cooperation
3.6
Leadership
3.6
💡 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 less
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 1
Little or No Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or less
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed.
Training:
Short demonstration or on-the-job training
💼 Experience Requirement
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • On-the-job training is typical
- • Tasks can be learned within a few days or weeks
- • Basic skills development
1
Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed.
On-the-job training is typicalTasks can be learned within a few days or weeksBasic skills development
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