5 of the Best Types of Meat Cutter Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Meat Cutter jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Meat Cutter Jobs

• Journeyman Meat Cutter

  Salary range: $40,000 - $50,000

  There are no specific academic qualifications necessary for becoming a journeyman meat cutter. However, there are certificate and degree programs that may be beneficial. Historically, journeyman was a union classification amongst butchers that you could only achieve by completing an apprenticeship with a master butcher. While the formality of the role has decreased, apprenticeships are still the most common way to learn the skills needed to become a journeyman meat cutter. You should gain experience entry-level positions with a butcher shop or meat market and work your way into an apprenticeship program. After completion of the program, you are qualified to work as a journeyman meat cutter.

• Per Diem Meat Cutter

  Salary range: $30,500 - $40,500

  Per diem jobs are short-term positions which are paid by the day. The most common per diem job opportunities are in the medical field, including positions in nursing, hospice, pediatrics, and midwifery. Phlebotomists, operating (OR) assistants, and pharmacists may also work on a per diem basis. Per diem employees are often contracted to work as admissions coordinators, recreation coordinators, and assistants.

• Union Meat Cutter

  Salary range: $30,500 - $40,500

  For those who work for unions, some of the specific jobs include researchers, organizers, administrators, lawyers, communications workers, and clerical staff. Your duties include entering workplaces to speak with workers and provide them encouragement and support if they are interested in joining a specific union, or to negotiate with employers for better working conditions, pay, or benefits for union members. There are numerous types of unions, including health care, public sector, construction, writing, and service workers unions, and they represent a variety of professions, such as nurses, journalists, manufacturers, construction workers, municipal workers, and hotel workers, to name only a few.

• Meat Cutter Manager

  Salary range: $30,500 - $40,500

  Managers supervise a team of people; they establish goals, assign tasks, and measure progress. The specific responsibilities of someone in a management position will vary based on the company and industry they work in, but their primary responsibilities remain largely the same. Managers monitor the accomplishments of their staff, focusing on the overall goals of the department. They work with Human Resources to determine and address staffing needs, coordinate and delegate responsibilities, check employee performance, and provide additional training and direction when necessary.

• Meat Cutter Apprentice

  Salary range: $32,000 - $40,000

  There are typically no formal qualifications to become a meat cutter apprentice. Many employers consider applicants with a high school diploma or GED certificate. Familiarity with the meat packaging industry is often a plus. As an apprentice, you do not need extensive knowledge because your role is to learn meat cutting skills under the guidance of a more experienced butcher. They will teach you how to cut and trim meat, the proper techniques for sausage-making and meat grinding, and other tasks such as how to inspect meat deliveries.