Slaughterers and Meat Packers
CrowdSourceLawyers.com
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.
Sample of reported job titles: Boning Room Worker, Meat Packager, Meat Packer, Meat Processor, Meat Trimmer, Meat Wrapper, Saw Man, Side Puller, Wrapper
View report: Summary Details Custom Easy Read
Veterans
Español
Tasks | Technology Skills | Tools Used | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Detailed Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Credentials | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
Tasks

- Remove bones, and cut meat into standard cuts in preparation for marketing.
- Sever jugular veins to drain blood and facilitate slaughtering.
- Tend assembly lines, performing a few of the many cuts needed to process a carcass.
- Shackle hind legs of animals to raise them for slaughtering or skinning.
- Slit open, eviscerate, and trim carcasses of slaughtered animals.
- Stun animals prior to slaughtering.
- Skin sections of animals or whole animals.
- Cut, trim, skin, sort, and wash viscera of slaughtered animals to separate edible portions from offal.
- Shave or singe and defeather carcasses, and wash them in preparation for further processing or packaging.
- Saw, split, or scribe carcasses into smaller portions to facilitate handling.
- Trim head meat, and sever or remove parts of animals’ heads or skulls.
- Grind meat into hamburger, and into trimmings used to prepare sausages, luncheon meats, and other meat products.
- Trim, clean, or cure animal hides.
- Wrap dressed carcasses or meat cuts.
- Slaughter animals in accordance with religious law, and determine that carcasses meet specified religious standards.
Find occupations related to multiple tasks
back to top
https://crowdsourcelawyers.com/job-description-templates/
Technology Skills

- Accounting software — AccountMate Software AccountMate
- Data base user interface and query software — Data entry software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
— Integrated Management Systems Food Connex Cloud; Second Foundation NaviMeat
- Inventory management software — AgInfoLink Meat Inventory Tracking System MITS; RFID software; Traceability software
- Office suite software — Microsoft Office
- Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.
back to top
https://crowdsourcelawyers.com/job-description-templates/
Knowledge

- Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Food Production — Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
- Production and Processing — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
- English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
back to top
https://crowdsourcelawyers.com/job-description-templates/
Skills
No skills met the minimum score.
back to top
Abilities

- Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
- Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
- Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Static Strength — The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
- Trunk Strength — The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without “giving out” or fatiguing.
- Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
back to top
Work Activities

- Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
back to top
Detailed Work Activities

- Cut meat products.
- Slaughter animals.
- Process animal carcasses.
- Clean materials to prepare them for production.
- Prepare meat products for sale or consumption.
Find occupations related to multiple detailed work activities
back to top
Work Context

- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 96% responded “Every day.”
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 89% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
- Work With Work Group or Team — 62% responded “Extremely important.”
- Spend Time Standing — 77% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 57% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment — 57% responded “Extremely important.”
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 78% responded “Every day.”
- Face-to-Face Discussions — 58% responded “Every day.”
- Contact With Others — 60% responded “Constant contact with others.”
- Physical Proximity — 87% responded “Moderately close (at arm’s length).”
- Responsible for Others’ Health and Safety — 47% responded “Very high responsibility.”
- Duration of Typical Work Week — 58% responded “More than 40 hours.”
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 45% responded “Important.”
- Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings — 26% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
- Coordinate or Lead Others — 44% responded “Important.”
- Consequence of Error — 49% responded “Serious.”
- Structured versus Unstructured Work — 43% responded “Limited freedom.”
- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 43% responded “Moderate responsibility.”
- Deal With External Customers — 33% responded “Extremely important.”
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures — 42% responded “Every day.”
- Freedom to Make Decisions — 36% responded “No freedom.”
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 39% responded “Very important.”
- Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body — 36% responded “About half the time.”
- Exposed to Hazardous Equipment — 44% responded “Never.”
- Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection — 46% responded “Never.”
- Level of Competition — 42% responded “Moderately competitive.”
back to top
Job Zone
Title | Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed |
Education | These occupations usually require a high school diploma. |
Related Experience | Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public. |
Job Training | Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. |
Job Zone Examples | These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers. |
SVP Range | (4.0 to < 6.0) |
back to top
Education
![]() Percentage of Respondents |
Education Level Required |
---|---|
61 ![]() ![]() |
High school diploma or equivalent
![]() |
29 ![]() ![]() |
Less than high school diploma |
11 ![]() ![]() |
Some college, no degree |
back to top
Credentials



back to top
Interests

Interest code: RC Want to discover your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move.
- Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
back to top
Work Styles

- Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
- Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Independence — Job requires developing one’s own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
- Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
- Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others’ needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
- Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
- Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
- Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
- Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
- Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
back to top
Work Values

- Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
- Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
back to top
Related Occupations
back to top
Wages & Employment Trends
Median wages (2020) | $14.76 hourly, $30,710 annual |
State wages | |
Local wages | |
Employment (2020) | 79,700 employees |
Projected growth (2020-2030) | ![]() |
Projected job openings (2020-2030) | 9,700 |
State trends | |
Top industries (2020) |
Manufacturing
|
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020 wage data and 2020-2030 employment projections
. “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2020-2030). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.
back to top
Job Openings on the Web

back to top
Sources of Additional Information

Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- American Association of Meat Processors
- National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
- National Chicken Council
- National Pork Producers Council
- North American Meat Institute
back to top
This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.