Industrial Butchers and Meat Cutters, Poultry Preparers and Related Workers

(NOC 9462)

in All Manufacturing and Utilities

Workers in this group prepare meat and poultry for further processing or for packaging for wholesale distribution. They work in meat and poultry slaughtering, processing and packing businesses.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

Estimate 435 employment change, 2021-2023
Estimate 1945 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$14.50

Minimum

$19.50

Median

$20.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

$31,735

Median

N/A

Maximum

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

Hourly Pay

$14.00

Minimum

$20.80

Median

$33.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,056

Minimum

$30,111

Median

$70,518

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Workers in this group prepare meat and poultry for further processing or for packaging for wholesale distribution. They work in meat and poultry slaughtering, processing and packing businesses.

Job duties

Industrial butchers:

Slaughter livestock using stunning devices and knives.
Skin, clean and trim carcasses.
Remove viscera and other inedible parts from carcasses.
Split carcasses into smaller portions to simplify handling.
May slaughter cattle, calves and sheep as prescribed by religious laws.

Industrial meat cutters:

Cut beef, lamb, pork or veal carcasses or sides or quarters of carcasses into primal cuts for further cutting, processing or packaging.
Remove bones from meat.
Cut meat and poultry into specific cuts for institutional, commercial or other wholesale use.
Remove skin, excess fat, bruises or other blemishes from carcasses or meat portions.

Poultry preparers:

Slaughter poultry and remove inedible parts.
Remove feathers and singe and wash poultry to prepare for further processing or packaging.

Sample job titles

industrial butcher
meat cutter - meat packing plant
poultry butcher - meat packing plant
poultry preparer
poultry worker - meat packing plant
slaughterhouse butcher
trimmer - meat packing plant

Skills

You should be responsible, alert, and in good physical health. Coordination, agility, and mechanical skills are important. You must also be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

High school may be required.
A program in industrial meat cutting is required for industrial meat cutters.
On-the-job training is provided for industrial butchers, poultry preparers and trimmers.

Other considerations

Industrial meat cutters may move to inspecting, testing and grading jobs. Movement to supervisor positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

100

employed in 2016

84.2%

employed full-time

26.3%

self employed

42.1%

57.9%

41.1

median age

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

15,275

employed in 2016

83.2%

employed full-time

3.2%

self employed

27.6%

72.4%

44.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

63.2%

Annapolis Valley

$34,329 median annual income

15.8%

North Shore

N/A

10.5%

Halifax

N/A

10.5%

Southern

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

87.5%

Manufacturing

12.5%

Retail trade

What is the age of Employment?

30.0%

55-64

25.0%

25-34

15.0%

35-44

15.0%

45-54

15.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

24.5%

45-54

20.8%

55-64

19.3%

35-44

16.5%

25-34

15.0%

15-24

Top levels of education

36.8%

Less than high school

N/A

31.6%

High school

N/A

21.1%

Trade Certification

N/A

10.5%

College Diploma

N/A

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

38.1%

High school

$28,505 median annual income

23.3%

Less than high school

$19,224 median annual income

19.9%

College Diploma

$38,781 median annual income

12.2%

Trade Certification

$43,975 median annual income

4.5%

Bachelor

$39,715 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

admission@usainteanne.ca

Website

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Website

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Website

Community Learning Organizations