Butchers and Meat Cutters
Cut, trim, or prepare consumer-sized portions of meat for use or sale in retail establishments.
Also called: Butcher · Meat Clerk · Meat Cutter · Meat Specialist · Meat Wrapper
Median pay (national)
$38,960
$28,850–$57,130 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
140,040
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+1%
~16,900 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for butchers and meat cutters shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $57,130 versus $28,850 at the bottom 10% — 2.0x. The median of $38,960 leaves roughly 47% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +1% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 16,900 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, Hawaii pays the most for this role (median $50,220, +29% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $21,750 — a 131% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Estimate requirements and order or requisition meat supplies to maintain inventories.
- Supervise other butchers or meat cutters.
- Cure, smoke, tenderize, and preserve meat.
- Negotiate with representatives from supply companies to determine order details.
Tools & technology
- Financial accounting software
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Food Production
- Production and Processing
- Sales and Marketing
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Education and Training