Life As a Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutter or Trimmer
Position Description 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
- Use knives, cleavers, meat saws, bandsaws, or other equipment to perform meat cutting and trimming.
- Inspect meat products for defects, bruises or blemishes and remove them along with any excess fat.
- Separate meats and byproducts into specified containers and seal containers.
- Clean and salt hides.
- Obtain and distribute specified meat or carcass.
- Prepare ready-to-heat foods by filleting meat or fish or cutting it into bite-sized pieces, preparing and adding vegetables or applying sauces or breading.
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Meat, Poultry, & Fish Cutter or Trimmer Required Skills
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Other Meat, Poultry, & Fish Cutter or Trimmer Job Titles
- Caul Puller
- Gut Snatcher
- Poultry Dresser
- Oyster Shucker
- Sausage Cutter
Meat, Poultry, & Fish Cutter or Trimmer Employment Estimates
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. There will be an estimated 19,200 positions for Meat, Poultry, & Fish Cutter or Trimmer per 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 Average 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 each U.S. state?
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?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers:
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
How do I Become a Meat, Poultry, & Fish Cutter or Trimmer?
Learn what Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutter or Trimmer education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Meat, Poultry, & Fish Cutter or Trimmer?

Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers Sector

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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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