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For Educators: Military Resources
For Educators: Military Resources

Butchers and Meat Cutters

Median Salary
37,650
Job Outlook
-2%

Overview

What are the responsibilities of this role?

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

What is the job outlook?

Employment of butchers is projected to decline 2 percent from 2023 to 2033. About 16,100 openings for butchers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Compensation

What is the typical salary range?

$20,940

10%

$37,650

Median

$48,890

90%

How does location impact how much salary?

Education

What level of education do professionals in this role have?

Education Level

  • High school

    69%

  • Less than high school

    20%

  • Some college

    7%

  • Post-secondary certificate

    2%

Which college majors best prepare you for this role?

  • Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter

Skills and Interest

Which skill sets are the most valuable to possess?

Skills

  • Verbal Skills

    Low

  • Leadership

    Mid

  • Math and Science Skills

    Low

  • Technology Design and Control

    Low

  • Equipment Operation and Maintenance

    Mid

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

    Low

What knowledge should you bring to the table?

  • Food Production
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Production and Processing
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Mechanical

What challenges will you likely face in the workplace?

Workplace

  • Time Pressure

    High

  • Responsibility

    High

  • Decision Making

    High

  • Physical Activity

    High

  • Exposure to Job Hazards

    Mid

  • Repetitiveness

    Mid

  • Level Of Competition

    Mid

What personality traits help people thrive in this role?

Realistic

You love hands-on work and solving practical problems — like fixing things and building stuff.

Conventional

You like structure, staying organized, and working with systems to get things done efficiently.

RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.

Take the RIASEC Test

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.