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What is a meat cutter and how to become one
A meat cutter prepares cuts of meat for consumption. They work in grocery stores, butcher shops, and meat processing plants. Meat cutters select and inspect meat, trimming excess fat and bone, and portioning meat into various cuts. They use knives, saws, and grinders. In addition, meat cutters also maintain cleanliness and safety, follow food safety regulations, and provide customer service. Meat cutting can be physically demanding and requires attention to detail and precision.
Avg. Salary $31,200
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate -3%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.13%
Asian 7.46%
Black or African American 8.54%
Hispanic or Latino 15.30%
Unknown 3.72%
White 63.86%
Genderfemale 12.71%
male 87.29%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a Meat Cutter?
Pros
Good hourly wage
Opportunities for overtime
Possibility for advancement to management positions
Work environment is typically indoors and climate controlled
Often unionized, providing job security and benefits
Cons
May have to work early morning or late night shifts
Repetitive nature of the job can lead to boredom or burnout
Pressure to meet production quotas and deadlines
Risk of exposure to food-borne illnesses or cross-contamination
Limited opportunities for creativity or innovation in the job
Meat Cutter career paths
Key steps to become a meat cutter
Explore meat cutter education requirements
Start to develop specific meat cutter skills
Skills 
Percentages Grinders 11.16% Food Handling 9.21% Food Safety 9.12% Hand Tools 7.13% Customer Service 6.53% Complete relevant meat cutter training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New meat cutters learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a meat cutter based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real meat cutter resumes.Research meat cutter duties and responsibilities
- Manage a high pace cutting room for Kroger.
- Manage meat department, purchase all perishables for dept, receive and and rotate product.
- Experience with equipment such as, meat saws, slicers, grinders, wrapping machines, and knives.
- Demonstrate strong customer service skills and proficient use of the POS systems.
Prepare your meat cutter resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your meat cutter resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a meat cutter resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Meat Cutter Resume templates
Build a professional Meat Cutter resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Meat Cutter resume.
Apply for meat cutter jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a meat cutter job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Meat Cutter Job
Are you a Meat Cutter?
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Average meat cutter salary
The average Meat Cutter salary in the United States is $31,200 per year or $15 per hour. Meat cutter salaries range between $23,000 and $41,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do meat cutters rate their job?
Meat Cutter reviews
I am good at it.
The pay could be/should be better for such a skilled and dangerous profession.
Updated January 8, 2025
