by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter covers Meat Cutting/meat Cutter. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Receive, Cut, And Package Animal Meat Products In Commercial Establishments And To Function As Licensed Meat Cutters/butchers. Includes Instruction In Product Recognition For Beef, Veal, Lamb, Pork, Poultry, And Fancy And Smoked Meats; Retail And Wholesale Cutting And Specialty Cuts; Packaging And Counter Display; Shop Safety; Meat Sanitation, Storage And Rotation; Quality Control; Meat Handling Laws And Regulations; And Customer Service. Continue reading for the essential details every meat cutting/meat cutter student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering meat cutting/meat cutter programs.
In the U.S., meat cutting/meat cutter is a widely-pursued major, with 60 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter Schools ranking analyzes these 12 schools to determine the best overall colleges for meat cutting/meat cutter students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of meat cutting/meat cutter programs later in this article.
Studies in Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations meat cutting/meat cutter graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a meat cutting/meat cutter program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a meat cutting/meat cutter major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several meat cutting/meat cutter degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 21 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 34 |
People currently working in careers related to meat cutting/meat cutter tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 61.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 27.9% |
| Some college courses | 10.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in meat cutting/meat cutter careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying meat cutting/meat cutter prepares you for a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to meat cutting/meat cutter.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to meat cutting/meat cutter.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | 234,346 | 8.3% |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | 23,218 | 7.3% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of meat cutting/meat cutter graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,617 |
| 4 years | $29,033 |
| 5 years | $32,264 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for meat cutting/meat cutter graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers meat cutting/meat cutter grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $50,662 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $47,691 |
With 12 different meat cutting/meat cutter programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased meat cutting/meat cutter school rankings to help you.
Those considering meat cutting/meat cutter, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
