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Slaughterers and Meat Packers
Perform nonroutine or precision functions involving the preparation of large portions of meat. Work may include specialized slaughtering tasks, cutting standard or premium cuts of meat for marketing, making sausage, or wrapping meats. Work typically occurs in slaughtering, meat packing, or wholesale establishments.
Other titles employers use
Boning Room Worker · Meat Packager · Meat Packer · Meat Processor · Meat Wrapper · Saw Man · Side Puller · Wrapper
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Food Production
- Production and Processing
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Finger Dexterity
- Manual Dexterity
- Near Vision
- Control Precision
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.9 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 4.3 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.1 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 4.7 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Most employers do not ask for a formal credential. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 89%
- A certificate or some college 11%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Inventory management software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Accounting software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 9,900
- Job openings each year
- 1,180
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 4.1%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 9,900 | 1,180 | 4.1% |
| North Carolina | 9,440 | 1,130 | 4.1% |
| California | 8,200 | 960 | — |
| Iowa | 6,290 | 740 | — |
| Wisconsin | 3,940 | 460 | −1.7% |
| Nebraska | 3,860 | 460 | 1.8% |
| Georgia | 3,710 | 440 | — |
| Ohio | 3,130 | 370 | — |
| Minnesota | 3,050 | 360 | 2.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,720 | 320 | — |
| Illinois | 2,350 | 280 | −1.3% |
| Arkansas | 2,120 | 250 | −3.6% |
| Oklahoma | 1,900 | 220 | — |
| Kentucky | 1,870 | 220 | −2.1% |
| Alabama | 1,640 | 190 | −1.8% |
| Kansas | 1,600 | 190 | 2.6% |
| Arizona | 1,550 | 190 | 25.0% |
| South Carolina | 1,470 | 170 | −3.9% |
| Missouri | 1,430 | 170 | 6.7% |
| Michigan | 1,060 | 120 | −1.9% |
| Washington | 1,040 | 130 | 2.0% |
| Utah | 1,010 | 120 | 13.5% |
| Tennessee | 940 | 110 | −7.8% |
| Louisiana | 890 | 110 | — |
| South Dakota | 760 | 90 | 2.7% |
| Indiana | 740 | 90 | 1.4% |
| Florida | 650 | 70 | −11.0% |
| Virginia | 610 | 70 | 1.7% |
| New York | 560 | 0 | −9.7% |
| New Jersey | 520 | 60 | 4.0% |
| Puerto Rico | 510 | 60 | — |
| Oregon | 440 | 50 | 2.3% |
| Idaho | 390 | 50 | 5.4% |
| Rhode Island | 250 | 30 | 13.6% |
| Delaware | 220 | 30 | 4.8% |
| West Virginia | 140 | 20 | 7.7% |
| Montana | 130 | 20 | 8.3% |
| North Dakota | 120 | 20 | −7.7% |
| Connecticut | 80 | 10 | — |
| Maryland | 70 | 10 | — |
| Maine | 50 | 0 | — |
| Nevada | 40 | 10 | — |
| Wyoming | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
- Degrees each year
- 168
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $28,000
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
- Degrees each year
- 22
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Drexel University
- Degrees each year
- 10
- Admit rate
- 78%
- Annual cost after aid
- $35,000
College of the Ozarks
- Degrees each year
- 4
- Admit rate
- 15%
- Annual cost after aid
- $5,000
Texas Woman's University
- Degrees each year
- 3
- Admit rate
- 95%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Central Washington University
- Degrees each year
- 3
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Dominican University
- Degrees each year
- 1
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 1
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Compare every college offering culinary arts and related services