Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
SOC code 51-3022 · O*NET-SOC 51-3022.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$38,300
a year
Hourly
$18.41
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$39,280
$18.89 per hour
Middle 50%
$35,350 – $44,170
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$29,980 – $48,150
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
145,700
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $29,980
- $14.42/hr
- 25th percentile
- $35,350
- $17.00/hr
- Median percentile
- $38,300
- $18.41/hr
- 75th percentile
- $44,170
- $21.24/hr
- 90th percentile
- $48,150
- $23.15/hr
What do meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers do?
Use hands or hand tools to perform routine cutting and trimming of meat, poultry, and seafood.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Use knives, cleavers, meat saws, bandsaws, or other equipment to perform meat cutting and trimming.
- Weigh meats and tag containers for weight and contents.
- Process primal parts into cuts that are ready for retail use.
- Inspect meat products for defects, bruises or blemishes and remove them along with any excess fat.
- Cut and trim meat to prepare for packing.
- Separate meats and byproducts into specified containers and seal containers.
- Prepare ready-to-heat foods by filleting meat or fish or cutting it into bite-sized pieces, preparing and adding vegetables or applying sauces or breading.
- Clean, trim, slice, and section carcasses for future processing.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold less than a high school diploma — 62% 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
- Less than a High School Diploma62%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)36%
- Doctoral Degree1%
Common questions
How much does a meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers earn?
The national median is $38,300 a year. The full range runs from $29,980 at the 10th percentile to $48,150 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 meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers 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.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.1/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing4.0/5
- Food Production4.0/5
- Public Safety and Security3.6/5
- Mathematics3.6/5
- Administration and Management3.4/5
- Mechanical3.3/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.3/5
- Transportation3.3/5
Transferable strengths: Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Time Management, Service Orientation, Instructing.