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Meat Grader Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Tests and verifies that packaging/meat are correct grade, standard, appearance, chemical/ physical/microbiological compliant and sensory attributes are met. Identifies and acts to prevent ...

LINECK Pay Grade:F&B3 Date Written:10/23/2019 Revision Date:08/21/2024 Job Summary: Responsible for ... Washes, peels, cuts, and seeds vegetables and fruits; cleans, cuts, and grinds meats, poultry, and ...

LINECK Pay Grade:F&B3 Date Written:10/23/2019 Revision Date:08/21/2024 Job Summary: Responsible for ... Washes, peels, cuts, and seeds vegetables and fruits; cleans, cuts, and grinds meats, poultry, and ...

LINECK Pay Grade:F&B3 Date Written:10/23/2019 Revision Date:08/21/2024 Job Summary: Responsible for ... Washes, peels, cuts, and seeds vegetables and fruits; cleans, cuts, and grinds meats, poultry, and ...

F&B Line Cook

Petoskey, MI · On-site

$18/hr

LINECK Pay Grade:F&B3 Date Written:10/23/2019 Revision Date:08/21/2024 Job Summary: Responsible for ... Washes, peels, cuts, and seeds vegetables and fruits; cleans, cuts, and grinds meats, poultry, and ...

F&B Line Cook

Petoskey, MI · On-site

$18/hr

LINECK Pay Grade:F&B3 Date Written:10/23/2019 Revision Date:08/21/2024 Job Summary: Responsible for ... Washes, peels, cuts, and seeds vegetables and fruits; cleans, cuts, and grinds meats, poultry, and ...

LINECK Pay Grade:F&B3 Date Written:10/23/2019 Revision Date:08/21/2024 Job Summary: Responsible for ... Washes, peels, cuts, and seeds vegetables and fruits; cleans, cuts, and grinds meats, poultry, and ...

Tests and verifies that packaging/meat are correct grade, standard, appearance, chemical/ physical/microbiological compliant and sensory attributes are met. Identifies and acts to prevent ...

... meat business experience is preferred Relationships Internal: Yield Analyst, Production, and ... Must be able to recognized yield grades * Must be able to occasionally push beef off scale * Must ...

... meat business experience is preferred Relationships Internal: Yield Analyst, Production, and ... Must be able to recognized yield grades * Must be able to occasionally push beef off scale * Must ...

... 2-3 years of meat business experience is preferred Relationships Internal: Yield Analyst ... Must be able to recognized yield grades * Must be able to occasionally push beef off scale * Must ...

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Meat Grader information

See Michigan salary details

$8

$14

$26

How much do meat grader jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for meat grader in Michigan is $14.89, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $10.05 and $17.60 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a meat grader?

Meat graders are professionals responsible for evaluating the quality and safety of meat products in processing plants and slaughterhouses. They inspect meat for factors such as texture, color, marbling, and fat distribution, assigning grades based on established standards. Their assessments help ensure that meat sold to consumers meets quality and safety requirements, and the grades influence pricing and marketability. Meat graders typically work for government agencies or meat processing companies and require training in food safety and inspection procedures.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a meat grader, and why are they important?

To excel as a Meat Grader, you need a solid understanding of meat quality standards, anatomy, and grading procedures, often obtained through on-the-job training or vocational courses. Familiarity with grading tools, inspection equipment, and regulatory systems like USDA grading standards is typically required. Attention to detail, reliability, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for accurately assessing products and working with processing teams. These skills ensure consistent product quality, compliance with regulations, and help maintain consumer trust in the food supply chain.

What are some common challenges faced by meat graders in their daily work?

Meat graders often face challenges such as working in cold environments for extended periods, maintaining concentration while inspecting large volumes of meat, and adhering to strict food safety and quality standards. The role requires keen attention to detail, as even minor inconsistencies can affect grading accuracy. Collaboration with butchers, quality assurance staff, and production teams is essential to ensure that grading aligns with both regulatory requirements and customer expectations.

What is the difference between Meat Grader vs Meat Inspector?

AspectMeat GraderMeat Inspector
CertificationsMeat grading certifications, USDA approvalUSDA certification, food safety training
Work EnvironmentMeat processing plants, grading stationsProcessing plants, regulatory agencies
Employer & Industry UsageMeat packing companies, USDAGovernment agencies, USDA, meat processing facilities

Meat Graders evaluate meat quality based on marbling, color, and texture, assigning grades for sale and processing. Meat Inspectors focus on ensuring meat safety, inspecting for contamination, disease, and compliance with health standards. While both roles work in meat processing environments and require USDA certifications, Meat Graders concentrate on quality grading, whereas Meat Inspectors prioritize safety and regulatory compliance.

How do you become a meat grader?

To become a meat grader, individuals typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and may complete on-the-job training or certification programs in meat grading. Knowledge of meat quality standards, inspection procedures, and the use of grading tools is essential, and some positions require passing a certification exam from a relevant authority.

What are popular job titles related to Meat Grader jobs in Michigan?

For Meat Grader jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Meat Grader jobs in Michigan look for?

The top searched job categories for Meat Grader jobs in Michigan are:

Infographic showing various Meat Grader job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 65% Full Time, 31% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $30,972 per year, or $14.9 per hour.

FSQ Technician 1st Shift

Taylor, MI

Jack Links
Manufacturing • 1 - 5K employees

$17 - $18/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago


Job description

Company Description

At Link Snacks, we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don't hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago.

We're everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren't buzzwords, they're expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands: Jack Link's, Lorissa's Organic Snacks, Golden Island, BiFi, Peperami and KOOEE! to name a few, there's nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it.

Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that's full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks.

Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks.

Job Description

Job Summary:

We are hiring a Quality assurance (QA) technician that is responsible for ensuring our company and customers remain compliant with industry regulations. You will perform manual and automated tests on company products, calibrate test equipment, and ensure employees are following safety regulations.

Position Purpose:

Supports the Food safety team with ensuring the facility maintains our USDA food quality standards as well as maintains the facility hygiene standards.

20% Food Safety & Hygiene Control

Completes daily Food Safety activities including but not limited to pre and post operational checks, temperature checks, thermometer calibration, reinforce GMP best practices by completing self-audits. Escalates non-compliance to Hygiene & Quality Assurance Manager.

Ensures quality assurance and product/food safety and regulatory compliance, adhering to local, state, and federal environmental health and food safety regulations.

20% Team Member Training

Completes on the spot coaching, as necessary, when completing daily tasks. Yearly re-trainings are required for the facility to remain complaint. You will also be trained consistently on Facility Safety, Hygiene, Food Safety, GMP's, and procedural changes.

60% Daily Quality Assurance Duties

  • Performs daily equipment calibration of Metal Detector, scales, Water Activity, Moisture meters.
  • Perform the quality inspection functions for finished products to assure product quality and package integrity is within specifications.
  • Tests and verifies that packaging/meat are correct grade, standard, appearance, chemical/ physical/microbiological compliant and sensory attributes are met. Identifies and acts to prevent unacceptable product shipment to customers.
  • Participates in physical inspections on a weekly basis on each area (pest control, operational methods, maintenance for food safety, sanitation, personnel practices, etc.)
  • Daily monitoring of GMP's and other Prerequisite Programs
  • Maintains records of findings and highlights non-conformance
  • Performs package evaluations on finished packages
Qualifications

Required Skills

  • Ability to communicate with all levels of team members effectively in oral and written communication.
  • Computer Skills are required (Microsoft Application required)
  • Customer Service Skills
  • Accurate record keeping skills

Nice to Have:

  • Quality experience a plus
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
  • Ability to comply with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards (i.e. SQF)

Education:

  • High school or equivalent (Preferred)

Experience:

  • Quality Assurance: (Preferred)
  • Food safety: (Preferred)
  • GMP's: (Preferred)
Additional Information

The hourly rate for this role is $17-$18 per hour. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Link Snacks Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Link Snacks provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to handle, or feel, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to sit, and reach with hands and arms.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant / office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet / slippery floors. Travel may be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
Link Snacks  is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

E-Verify
Link Snacks provides the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new Team Member's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, we are required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. We do not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid, we use E-Verify's photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) photograph. If you believe that Link Snacks has violated our responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at 1-800-255-7688 (TDD: 1-800-237-2515).

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.