Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Meat Packer
What meat packers actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a meat packer?
Gear up and sanitize. From there, the day usually includes process carcasses, split and break carcasses, and remove hides and organs. Full time, early shifts and overtime common.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a meat packer working full time.
- Gear up and sanitize.
- Start the line.
- Break carcasses into primals.
- Break.
- Pack boxed beef.
- Lunch.
- Clean down.
Where meat packers work
Packers work in cold, wet, noisy plants.
Hours and schedule
Full time, early shifts and overtime common.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Process carcasses
- Split and break carcasses
- Remove hides and organs
- Clean and trim
- Pack products
- Follow food safety rules
- Keep stations sanitary
Tools you’ll use every day
- Knives
- Band saws
- Hooks
- Conveyors
- Scales
- Cut-resistant gear
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- No degree needed
- Many openings
- Overtime
- Training provided
What’s hard
- Hard physical work
- Cold and wet
- Injury risk
- Fast line speeds
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I’m physically strong
- I don’t mind cold
- I want to start fast
- I can handle repetitive work
- I want overtime
- I’m not squeamish
Not sure? Take the free Meat Packer fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Wear cut-resistant gear
- Use machine guards
- Prevent slips
- Follow lockout/tagout