Butchers and Meat Cutters
SOC code 51-3021 · O*NET-SOC 51-3021.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Butchers and Meat Cutters pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$40,140
a year
Hourly
$19.30
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$42,380
$20.37 per hour
Middle 50%
$35,510 – $48,050
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$29,460 – $58,110
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
136,430
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $29,460
- $14.17/hr
- 25th percentile
- $35,510
- $17.07/hr
- Median percentile
- $40,140
- $19.30/hr
- 75th percentile
- $48,050
- $23.10/hr
- 90th percentile
- $58,110
- $27.94/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+1%
Growing about as fast as average
143,100
jobs in 2024
144,500
projected for 2034
About 1,400 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do butchers and meat cutters do?
Cut, trim, or prepare consumer-sized portions of meat for use or sale in retail establishments.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Prepare and place meat cuts and products in display counter to appear attractive and catch the shopper's eye.
- 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.
- Prepare special cuts of meat ordered by customers.
- Receive, inspect, and store meat upon delivery to ensure meat quality.
- Estimate requirements and order or requisition meat supplies to maintain inventories.
- Record quantity of meat received and issued to cooks or keep records of meat sales.
- Supervise other butchers or meat cutters.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 70% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)70%
- Less than a High School Diploma20%
- Some College Courses7%
- Post-Secondary Certificate2%
Common questions
How much does a butchers and meat cutters earn?
The national median is $40,140 a year. The full range runs from $29,460 at the 10th percentile to $58,110 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a butchers and meat cutters without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is butchers and meat cutters in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 1% between 2024 and 2034 — growing about as fast as average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.1/5
- Food Production3.9/5
- Production and Processing3.4/5
- Sales and Marketing3.1/5
- English Language2.8/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Time Management, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving.