Life As a Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutter or Trimmer
Meat, Poultry, & Fish Cutter or Trimmer Definition Use hand or hand tools to perform routine cutting and trimming of meat, poultry, and seafood.
A Day in the Life of a Meat, Poultry, & Fish Cutter or Trimmer
- Separate meats and byproducts into specified containers and seal containers.
- Cut and trim meat to prepare for packing.
- Process primal parts into cuts that are ready for retail use.
- Inspect meat products for defects, bruises or blemishes and remove them along with any excess fat.
- Remove parts, such as skin, feathers, scales or bones, from carcass.
- Use knives, cleavers, meat saws, bandsaws, or other equipment to perform meat cutting and trimming.
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What a Meat, Poultry, & Fish Cutter or Trimmer Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Related Job Titles
- Filleter
- Final Dressing Cutter
- Blowing Weasand
- Hog Scalder
- Beef Breaker
Job Outlook for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
There were about 156,400 jobs for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutter or Trimmer in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutter or Trimmer. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 19,200 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Meat, Poultry, & Fish Cutter or Trimmer are Nevada, Georgia, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Delaware, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Meat, Poultry, & Fish Cutter or Trimmer Salary
The typical yearly salary for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers is somewhere between $20,540 and $37,410.

Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers who work in Vermont, Nebraska, or Iowa, make the highest salaries.
How much do Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $22,930 |
Alaska | $25,470 |
Arkansas | $26,170 |
California | $28,360 |
Connecticut | $31,260 |
Delaware | $26,430 |
Florida | $28,920 |
Georgia | $24,600 |
Hawaii | $30,510 |
Idaho | $26,080 |
Illinois | $30,900 |
Indiana | $28,100 |
Iowa | $33,810 |
Kansas | $31,050 |
Kentucky | $27,440 |
Louisiana | $22,250 |
Maine | $27,880 |
Maryland | $30,780 |
Massachusetts | $28,340 |
Michigan | $29,980 |
Minnesota | $31,380 |
Mississippi | $26,010 |
Missouri | $30,140 |
Montana | $27,860 |
Nebraska | $33,950 |
Nevada | $28,690 |
New Hampshire | $29,260 |
New Jersey | $29,560 |
New Mexico | $30,850 |
New York | $29,090 |
North Carolina | $25,800 |
North Dakota | $29,070 |
Ohio | $28,710 |
Oklahoma | $23,320 |
Oregon | $27,090 |
Pennsylvania | $29,520 |
Rhode Island | $30,380 |
South Carolina | $23,840 |
South Dakota | $29,940 |
Tennessee | $26,340 |
Texas | $27,730 |
Utah | $27,670 |
Vermont | $35,300 |
Virginia | $27,310 |
Washington | $31,190 |
West Virginia | $27,870 |
Wisconsin | $28,620 |
Wyoming | $27,390 |
What Tools do Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers may use on a daily basis:
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
How to Become a Meat, Poultry, & Fish Cutter or Trimmer
Are there Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers?

Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers work in the following industries:

Related Careers
Are you already one of the many Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutter or Trimmer in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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