9462-NOC

Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers

(NOC 94141)
Annual Earnings
$42,755
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
High School Diploma
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
730

Career Overview

Workers in this group:

  • Prepare meat and poultry for further processing, for packaging or for marketing
  • Work in meat and poultry slaughtering, processing and packing establishments

 

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 for handling
  • May slaughter cattle, calves and sheep as set out 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

Poultry preparers

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

Trimmers

  • Remove skin, excess fat, bruises or other blemishes from carcasses or meat portions

 

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$42,755

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$24.00/hr
Median$20.50/hr
Low$16.75/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

1,180

% Employed Full Time

65%
Source: 2021 Census

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place in a regular controlled indoor environment
  • Workers may be exposed to infectious bacteria and viruses when handling meat and poultry
  • Working with equipment, instruments, machinery or power/hand tools can be a source of injury
  • Workers may be exposed to airborne particles such as feathers in the work environment
  • The workplace may be noisy enough to cause distraction or hearing loss
  • Workers may be exposed to strong or toxic odours
  • Work involves contact with water

 

Career Pathways

Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Industrial meat cutters may progress to inspecting, testing and grading jobs.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic

Job Titles

Beef boner
Ham cutter
Industrial butcher
Industrial meat cutter
Meat trimmer
Poultry preparer
Slaughterer

Education, Training and Skills

  • Completion of secondary school may be required
  • For industrial meat cutters, completion of a program in industrial meat cutting or Experience as an industrial butcher or trimmer is required
  • On-the-job training is provided for industrial butchers, poultry preparers and trimmers

 

Education programs in B.C.

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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

46%
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.

46%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

42%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

40%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

40%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

37%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

36%
Time Management

Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

36%
Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.

34%
Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

34%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

1,180
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 10 0.8%
Kootenay 10 0.8%
Mainland/Southwest 955 80.6%
North Coast and Nechako 30 2.5%
Northeast 20 1.7%
Thompson-Okanagan 95 8.0%
Vancouver Island/Coast 60 5.1%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)

730
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo Not available Not available
Kootenay Not available Not available
Mainland/Southwest 570 1.6%
North Coast and Nechako 20 -0.4%
Northeast 10 -0.7%
Thompson-Okanagan 110 1.3%
Vancouver Island/Coast 20 1.5%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2023-2033)
Manufacturing640
Retail Trade70
Accommodation And Food Services10
Agriculture And Fishing10
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources

Resource information is currently not available.