What Does a Meat Trimmer Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a meat trimmer do?

Meat, poultry and fish cutters and trimmers use hand or hand tools to perform routine cutting and trimming of meat, poultry and seafood. The median pay is $38,300 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about A few weeks on the job, and employment is projected to grow +5.7% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$38,300
$18.41/hour · May 2025
Job growth
+5.7%
2025–35, faster than average
Openings per year
17,000
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
BLS classification
Time to train
A few weeks on the job
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
149,800
Employment, 2025

What meat trimmers do

Meat trimmers prepare meat for packaging. They cut, debone and trim beef, pork, poultry and fish on processing lines, remove fat and defects, portion cuts to spec and follow strict food safety rules.

No formal education is required, and training is short. BLS projects faster than average growth and many openings.

Typical duties

Cut and trim meat
Debone
Remove fat and defects
Portion cuts
Sharpen knives
Follow food safety rules
Keep the line moving

Work environment and schedule

Trimmers work in cold processing plants on fast lines.

Schedule: Full time, early shifts and overtime common.

A day in the life

5:00 AMPut on PPE and sanitize.
5:30 AMStart on the line.
7:30 AMTrim pork loins.
9:00 AMBreak and sharpen knives.

See a full day in the life of a meat trimmer →

Meat Trimmer salary

Half of meat trimmers earned more than $38,300 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $29,980 for the lowest 10% to $48,150 for the top 10%.

$29,98010th$38,300Median$48,15090th

Full meat trimmer pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a meat trimmer

Apply to a plant
Complete safety training
Learn cuts
Build speed
Advance

No formal educational credential is required; training is short.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a meat trimmer →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Knife skills
Deboning
Trimming to spec
Knife sharpening
Food safety

People skills

Stamina
Speed
Teamwork
Reliability

All meat trimmer skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Faster-than-average growth
No degree needed
Many openings
Overtime

Cons

Cold, wet conditions
Repetitive motion injuries
Fast pace
Knife hazards

Certifications and licenses

Food safety training: HACCP basics.
Knife safety training: Employer.
OSHA 10: Safety.
Forklift certification: Helpful.

Career path

Trimmer: Entry.
Skilled Cutter: Complex cuts.
Line Lead: Lead.
Production Supervisor: Lead.

Learn the job before day one

Our Meat Trimmer training (6 hours, $59.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as keep a boning knife sharp on the line and prevent repetitive motion injuries, safety and how to land your first job.

View Meat Trimmer training Is this career right for me?

Meat Packer

Process livestock into meat cuts in a packing plant.

$40,130
A few weeks on the job

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

Food Science Technician

Test food and ingredients to keep products safe, consistent and tasty.

$52,130
2 years

Compare: Meat Trimmer vs. Meat Packer · Meat Trimmer vs. Butcher · Meat Trimmer vs. Food Batchmaker · Meat Trimmer vs. Food Science Technician

Meat Trimmer FAQ

Do I need experience?

No, training is provided.

Is the job growing?

Yes, BLS projects faster than average growth.

Is the work hard?

Yes, it is cold, fast and physical.

How much does a meat trimmer make?

The median annual wage for meat trimmers was $38,300 ($18.41 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $29,980 and the highest 10% earned more than $48,150.

How long does it take to become a meat trimmer?

Most people need about A few weeks on the job of training. No formal educational credential is required; training is short.

Do you need a degree to be a meat trimmer?

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 51-3022 (Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers (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.

Meat Trimmer