Meat cutter
Also known as: meat boner, meatcutter, meat trimmers, deboner, trimmer
About this occupation
Meat cutters cut carcasses of animals into large and smaller parts for further processing. They remove bones from pre-processed carcasses of animals either manually or using machines.
Essential skills and knowledge
- tolerate strong smells
- cultural practices regarding animal parts sorting
- apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages
- maintain cutting equipment
- animal anatomy for food production
- handle knives for cutting activities
- apply HACCP
- follow hygienic procedures during food processing
- mark differences in colours
- ensure sanitation
- sort cut parts of carcasses inside cooling compartments
- ensure refrigeration of food in the supply chain
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Butchers and Meat Cutters (O*NET 51-3021.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- 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.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Enterprising
Top skills: Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness
US median pay: US$40,140 a year (2025), 136,430 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Agriculture or Foods and NutritionO*NET: Food ProductionVery important (3.9)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- 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.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers
- Cooks, Restaurant
- Food Preparation Workers
- Bakers
- Cooks, Short Order
- Chefs and Head Cooks
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
- Food Batchmakers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.