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What is a meat department manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

The meat department manager takes responsibility for the general operations and activities of the meat department. This person manages the employees in this department and directs every activity like hiring, inducting, and counseling new intakes.

The meat department manager also oversees the skill development of each member while performing other management functions like rostering. The manager solves complaints, removes expired products, maintains stocks, designs sales plans, and works primarily in department stores.

A meat manager requires a high school diploma or GED certificate. However, smaller employers often give new meat managers on-the-job training. Larger meat departments need advanced qualifications like formal management training.

Also, previous job experience as a meat cutter or butcher is an added advantage. Because meat department managers have to lift heavy items often, you must always be in excellent physical condition. People working in this role need to take safety precautions and use protective gear always. The average salary a meat manager earns is $54,651 every year.

ScoreMeat Department ManagerUS Average
Salary
4.2

Avg. Salary $53,442

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.4

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 6.54%

Black or African American 9.97%

Hispanic or Latino 15.42%

Unknown 4.75%

White 62.66%

Gender

female 14.00%

male 86.00%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress level
9.4

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.2

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Meat department manager career paths

Key steps to become a meat department manager

  1. Explore meat department manager education requirements

    Most common meat department manager degrees

    High School Diploma

    35.1 %

    Associate

    29.0 %

    Bachelor's

    25.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific meat department manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Sales Floor11.46%
    Product Quality9.97%
    Gross Profit8.09%
    Food Safety7.62%
    Slicers6.66%
  3. Complete relevant meat department manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New meat department managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a meat department manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real meat department manager resumes.
  4. Research meat department manager duties and responsibilities

    • Manage national and international POS system installations, including schedules, manpower requirements, and travel itineraries.
    • Implement a strict cleanliness / sanitation schedule with clear concise procedures and processes to maintain a level not present previously.
    • Note cleanliness and organization of internal audits.
    • Allocate merchandise and determine POS set-up; identify and quantify retail business opportunities through well-craft planning skills.
  5. Apply for meat department manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a meat department manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first meat department manager job

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Average meat department manager salary

The average meat department manager salary in the United States is $53,442 per year or $26 per hour. Meat department manager salaries range between $45,000 and $62,000 per year.

Average meat department manager salary
$53,442 Yearly
$25.69 hourly

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Meat department manager reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

Improving the sales and providing high quality customer service

Cons

Not enough support from manager


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.