Meat Trimmer
Cut and trim meat, poultry and fish in processing plants.
- $38,300
- A few weeks on the job
Mechanics, Maintenance & Manufacturing career
Meat Packer
Also called: Slaughterer · Meat Processing Worker · Packinghouse Worker · Harvest Floor Worker
What meat packers 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 meat packer do?
Slaughterers and meat packers work in slaughtering, meat packing or wholesale establishments performing tasks such as slaughtering cattle, hogs and poultry and preparing carcasses. The median pay is $40,130 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about A few weeks on the job, and employment is projected to grow +2.0% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$40,130$19.29/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+2.0%2025–35, slower than average
- Openings per year7,700Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationNo formal educational credentialBLS classification
- Time to trainA few weeks on the jobTypical program length
- U.S. jobs71,200Employment, 2025
What meat packers do
Meat packers turn livestock into meat. They work on fast processing lines stunning, splitting, cleaning and breaking carcasses into primal cuts, then packing products. USDA inspectors oversee plants to keep meat safe.
No formal education is required, and training is short. BLS projects slight growth and many openings due to turnover.
Typical duties
- Process carcasses
- Split and break carcasses
- Remove hides and organs
- Clean and trim
- Pack products
- Follow food safety rules
- Keep stations sanitary
Work environment and schedule
Packers work in cold, wet, noisy plants.
Schedule: Full time, early shifts and overtime common.
A day in the life
- Gear up and sanitize.
- Start the line.
- Break carcasses into primals.
- Break.
See a full day in the life of a meat packer →
Meat Packer salary
Half of meat packers earned more than $40,130 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $33,340 for the lowest 10% to $51,090 for the top 10%.
Full meat packer pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a meat packer
- Apply to a plant
- Complete safety training
- Learn a station
- Cross-train
- Advance
No formal educational credential is required.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a meat packer →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Knife skills
- Saw operation
- Carcass breaking
- Food safety
- Packing
People skills
- Stamina
- Teamwork
- Reliability
- Speed
All meat packer skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- No degree needed
- Many openings
- Overtime
- Training provided
Cons
- Hard physical work
- Cold and wet
- Injury risk
- Fast line speeds
Certifications and licenses
- Food safety training: HACCP.
- Knife safety: Employer.
- OSHA 10: Safety.
- Forklift certification: Helpful.
Career path
- Production Worker: Entry.
- Skilled Worker: Complex stations.
- Line Lead: Lead.
- Supervisor: Lead.
Learn the job before day one
Our Meat Packer training (6 hours, $59.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as stay safe on a meat processing line and pack product to spec, safety and how to land your first job.
Related careers
Butcher
Cut, trim and prepare meat for stores, restaurants and customers.
- $40,140
- 3–12 months on the job
Food Batchmaker
Measure and mix ingredients into large batches for food production.
- $42,290
- A few months on the job
Packaging Machine Operator
Run machines that fill, seal, label and package products.
- $43,220
- A few weeks to months on the job
Compare: Meat Packer vs. Meat Trimmer · Meat Packer vs. Butcher · Meat Packer vs. Food Batchmaker · Meat Packer vs. Packaging Machine Operator
Meat Packer FAQ
Do I need experience?
No.
Is the job hard?
Yes, it is physically demanding.
Are there openings?
Yes, many due to turnover.
How much does a meat packer make?
The median annual wage for meat packers was $40,130 ($19.29 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $33,340 and the highest 10% earned more than $51,090.
How long does it take to become a meat packer?
Most people need about A few weeks on the job of training. No formal educational credential is required.
Do you need a degree to be a meat packer?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “no formal educational credential” as the typical entry-level education, plus short-term on-the-job training.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 51-3023 (Slaughterers and meat packers).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Slaughterers and meat packers (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.