How To Become A Meat Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a meat manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A meat manager oversees a meat department in a grocery store or supermarket. They are responsible for managing the inventory, ordering supplies, and ensuring that all products meet safety and quality standards. Meat managers also supervise a team of staff members, including meat cutters and clerks, and provide training on proper food handling techniques. They work closely with vendors to negotiate prices and maintain good relationships. Additionally, they monitor sales and adjust pricing to ensure profitability.

ScoreMeat ManagerUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $34,212

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

8.8

Growth Rate -3%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

10.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.07%

Asian 7.01%

Black or African American 7.31%

Hispanic or Latino 14.39%

Unknown 3.65%

White 66.57%

Gender

female 9.37%

male 90.63%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress Level

8.8

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.9

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

8.5

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Meat Manager?

Pros

Good salary
Job security
Chance to develop leadership and management skills
Fast-paced work environment
Possibility for creative menu planning

Cons

Long hours
Potential safety hazards
Dealing with difficult customers or employees
Managing inventory and waste can be challenging
Pressure to meet sales targets

Key steps to become a meat manager

Explore meat manager education requirements

Most common meat manager degrees

High School Diploma

42.7 %

Associate

23.9 %

Bachelor's

21.1 %

Start to develop specific meat manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Pallets	19.14%
Cleanliness	13.92%
Food Safety	8.37%
Math	7.91%
Food Handling	5.92%

Complete relevant meat manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New meat managers 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 manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real meat manager resumes.

Gain additional meat manager certifications

Meat manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific meat manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for meat managers include Food Safety Manager Certification and Certified Food Manager (CFM).

More About Certifications

Research meat manager duties and responsibilities

Manage meat department, purchase all perishables for dept, receive and and rotate product.
Ensure compliance with safety and sanitation standards mandate by state, federal and OSHA regulations.
Have proper knowledge of power saws, knifes, slicers, cubers, and commercial grinders.
Work with equipment like meat saws, slicers, grinders, wrapping machines, and knives.

Prepare your meat manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your meat manager 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 manager 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 Manager Resume templates

Build a professional Meat Manager 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 Manager resume.

Apply for meat manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a meat manager 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 do meat managers rate their job?