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Butcher
Also called: Meat Cutter · Meat Clerk · Retail Butcher · Meat Department Associate
What butchers do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a butcher do?
Butchers and meat cutters cut, trim, grind and package meat, prepare custom orders, and keep meat cases and work areas clean and safe. The median pay is $40,140 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 3–12 months on the job, and employment is projected to grow +2.4% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$40,140$19.30/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+2.4%2025–35, slower than average
- Openings per year15,100Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationNo formal educational credentialBLS classification
- Time to train3–12 months on the jobTypical program length
- U.S. jobs138,400Employment, 2025
What butchers do
Butchers break down large cuts of beef, pork, lamb and poultry into steaks, roasts, chops and ground meat. They trim fat, grind, package and label products, stock cases, prepare custom orders and advise customers on cuts and cooking. Many work in grocery stores; others work in specialty shops and restaurants.
Most butchers learn on the job over months, often starting as meat clerks. Knife skills, sanitation and safety around band saws and grinders are essential. Skilled butchers can become meat managers or open their own shops.
Typical duties
- Break down primal and subprimal cuts
- Cut steaks, roasts and chops
- Grind and package meat
- Label products with weights and prices
- Prepare custom orders
- Stock and rotate meat cases
- Clean and sanitize equipment
Work environment and schedule
Butchers work in cold cutting rooms and stores, standing for long periods and using sharp knives, band saws and grinders.
Schedule: Most work full-time days, including weekends and holidays when demand is high.
A day in the life
- Check deliveries and the cutting list.
- Break down beef subprimals into steaks and roasts.
- Grind beef and package it.
- Stock the case and rotate older products.
See a full day in the life of a butcher →
Butcher salary
Half of butchers earned more than $40,140 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $29,460 for the lowest 10% to $58,110 for the top 10%.
Full butcher pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a butcher
- Get hired as a meat clerk
- Learn knife skills
- Learn the cuts
- Master equipment safely
- Advance
No formal education is required. Butchers learn on the job, often over several months. Some take meat cutting courses.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a butcher →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Knife skills
- Meat cutting and trimming
- Band saw and grinder use
- Sanitation
- Packaging and labeling
People skills
- Attention to detail
- Customer service
- Safety awareness
- Stamina
All butcher skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Learn a skilled trade on the job
- Steady grocery jobs
- Customer interaction
- Option to own a shop
Cons
- Cold work environment
- Knife and saw hazards
- Standing all day
- Early shifts
Certifications and licenses
- Food handler card: Basic food safety training.
- Meat cutting certificate: Programs offered by some schools.
- HACCP training: Food safety systems training.
- Equipment safety training: Training for saws and grinders.
Career path
- Meat Clerk: Package and stock.
- Butcher or Meat Cutter: Cut and trim meat.
- Lead Meat Cutter: Lead the department.
- Meat Manager or Shop Owner: Run a department or business.
Learn the job before day one
Our Butcher training (8 hours, $74.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as cut ribeye steaks and operate a meat grinder safely, safety and how to land your first job.
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Butcher FAQ
Do butchers need school?
No; most learn on the job.
Is butchery dangerous?
Sharp tools and saws require strict safety practices.
Where do butchers work?
Grocery stores, specialty shops and restaurants.
How much does a butcher make?
The median annual wage for butchers was $40,140 ($19.30 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $29,460 and the highest 10% earned more than $58,110.
How long does it take to become a butcher?
Most people need about 3–12 months on the job of training. No formal education is required. Butchers learn on the job, often over several months. Some take meat cutting courses.
Do you need a degree to be a butcher?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “no formal educational credential” as the typical entry-level education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 51-3021 (Butchers and meat cutters).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Butchers and meat cutters (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.