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The differences between butchers and meat managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a butcher and a meat manager. Additionally, a meat manager has an average salary of $34,212, which is higher than the $32,047 average annual salary of a butcher.
The top three skills for a butcher include food safety, culinary and safety standards. The most important skills for a meat manager are pallets, cleanliness, and food safety.
| Butcher | Meat Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $32,047 | $34,212 |
| Hourly rate | $15.41 | $16.45 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 6,871 | 8,254 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A butcher is someone responsible for turning whole or large pieces of meat into ready-to-cook or retail-ready portions that can be purchased by customers or restaurants. Butchers know how to cut meat, poultry, and fish properly, so they deal mostly with sharp instruments like knives, grinders, and other cutting equipment. Butchers are knowledgeable in the science of temperature and aging to ensure they are of great quality at all times and adhere to health regulations. They are commonly seen in wet markets, supermarkets, grocery stores, butcher shops, and slaughterhouses, but some are self-employed or have their own meat shop.
A meat manager works in the meat department of a store. The responsibilities of this position include overseeing the department's operations, ensuring food safety, overseeing product preparation, dealing with the suppliers and vendors, carrying out inventory, and performing customer service. They also oversee employees in the department, perform sales related tasks, make changes in inventory and pricing, and schedule employees' shifts.
Butchers and meat managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Butcher | Meat Manager | |
| Average salary | $32,047 | $34,212 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $25,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Everett, WA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Omaha Steaks | Fresh Thyme |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Retail |
There are a few differences between a butcher and a meat manager in terms of educational background:
| Butcher | Meat Manager | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between butchers' and meat managers' demographics:
| Butcher | Meat Manager | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.0% Female, 12.0% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 7.0% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |