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What is a smoked meat preparer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a smoked meat preparer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $11.57 an hour? That's $24,069 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 2% and produce 17,700 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreSmoked Meat PreparerUS Average
Salary
1.9

Avg. Salary $24,069

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.8

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.07%

Asian 7.04%

Black or African American 11.35%

Hispanic or Latino 21.59%

Unknown 5.23%

White 53.71%

Gender

female 17.24%

male 82.76%

Age - 34
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 - 34
Stress level
4.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.2

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a smoked meat preparer

  1. Explore smoked meat preparer education requirements

    Most common smoked meat preparer degrees

    Diploma

    41.7 %

    High School Diploma

    25.0 %

    Bachelor's

    25.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific smoked meat preparer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service100.00%
  3. Complete relevant smoked meat preparer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New smoked meat preparers 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 smoked meat preparer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real smoked meat preparer resumes.
  4. Research smoked meat preparer duties and responsibilities

    • Develop variety of menu items catering to customers with food allergies and diet restrictions such as gluten-free and vegan items
    • Process and receive customer payments for goods using POS system, providing correct change as required.
  5. Apply for smoked meat preparer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a smoked meat preparer 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 smoked meat preparer job

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Average smoked meat preparer salary

The average smoked meat preparer salary in the United States is $24,069 per year or $12 per hour. Smoked meat preparer salaries range between $17,000 and $32,000 per year.

Average smoked meat preparer salary
$24,069 Yearly
$11.57 hourly

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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.

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