Meat cutter vs butcher apprentice

The differences between meat cutters and butcher apprentices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a meat cutter and a butcher apprentice. Additionally, a butcher apprentice has an average salary of $33,382, which is higher than the $31,200 average annual salary of a meat cutter.

The top three skills for a meat cutter include grinders, food handling and food safety. The most important skills for a butcher apprentice are customer service, beef, and food products.

Meat cutter vs butcher apprentice overview

	Meat Cutter	Butcher Apprentice
Yearly salary	$31,200	$33,382
Hourly rate	$15.00	$16.05
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	8,732	12,486
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 40%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	4	4

Meat cutter vs butcher apprentice salary

Meat cutters and butcher apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Meat Cutter	Butcher Apprentice
Average salary	$31,200	$33,382
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $41,000	Between $26,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	-
Highest paying state	Washington	-
Best paying company	Mollie Stone's Markets	-
Best paying industry	Retail	-

Differences between meat cutter and butcher apprentice education

There are a few differences between a meat cutter and a butcher apprentice in terms of educational background:

	Meat Cutter	Butcher Apprentice
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 40%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Meat cutter vs butcher apprentice demographics

Here are the differences between meat cutters' and butcher apprentices' demographics:

	Meat Cutter	Butcher Apprentice
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7%	Male, 92.1% Female, 7.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.5% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between meat cutter and butcher apprentice duties and responsibilities

Meat cutter example responsibilities.

Manage a high pace cutting room for Kroger.
Manage meat department, purchase all perishables for dept, receive and and rotate product.
Experience with equipment such as, meat saws, slicers, grinders, wrapping machines, and knives.
Demonstrate strong customer service skills and proficient use of the POS systems.
Cut meats, see meats and bones, bagging, wrapped, run seal machine
Follow all rules and regulations of HACCP.

Butcher apprentice example responsibilities.

Integrate technology into curriculum, supplementing class lectures and developing student's researching skills and internet and PowerPoint proficiency.
Remove and install custom size vinyl replacement windows for residential homes and commercial

Meat cutter vs butcher apprentice skills

Common meat cutter skills

Grinders, 11%
Food Handling, 9%
Food Safety, 9%
Hand Tools, 7%
Customer Service, 7%
Basic Math, 6%

Common butcher apprentice skills

Customer Service, 65%
Beef, 15%
Food Products, 15%
Customer Orders, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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