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Butcher
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
Meat cutters in retail stores prepare meat cuts and products to look attractive and appeal to shoppers. Duties vary, but in general, retail meat cutters:
Retail meat cutters also may:
Meat cutters in meat processing plants use knives and specialized equipment to slaughter, break, cut, bone, and trim meat. They produce a variety of cuts for markets (domestic and international). They must practice good personal hygiene and work within a strict food safety system. They may work in one department on a specific task or different departments on a variety of tasks. For example, they may work:
Meat cutters work indoors in rooms with controlled temperatures (from -2 C to 4 C). They are on their feet most of the day and often move heavy items. Their workplaces usually have safety measures (work procedures and safety equipment) to reduce the risk of injury (from repetitive motions and working with knives and saws).
Most meat cutters work shifts.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in compiling information to process customers' orders; and to maintain inventories and keep records of meat sales
Interest in precision working to grind meats and slice cooked meats using powered grinders and slicing machines
Interest in determining the amounts and types of meat cuts to be prepared; may supervise other butchers and meat cutters
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Interest in operating equipment to split carcasses into smaller portions to facilitate handling
Interest in comparing information to remove viscera and other inedible parts from carcasses, and to skin, clean and trim carcasses
Interest in preparing meat for further processing, packaging and marketing
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Meat cutters need:
Meat cutters should enjoy:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 369 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Dec 17, 2022 and May 10, 2025.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Cut, trim and prepare standard cuts of meat | 332 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Clean meats to prepare for processing or cutting | 293 |
| Tasks: Grind meats | 279 |
| Tasks: Wrap and package prepared meats | 267 |
| Tasks: Remove bones from meat | 259 |
| Tasks: Weigh meats for sale | 250 |
| Tasks: Cut poultry into parts | 250 |
| Tasks: Prepare special displays of meats, poultry and fish products | 200 |
| Tasks: Cut carcasses, sides and quarters | 196 |
| Tasks: Prepare special orders | 193 |
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 139 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Dec 17, 2022 and May 10, 2025.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Remove bones from meat | 135 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Cut beef, lamb, pork or veal carcasses or sides or quarters of carcasses into primal cuts for further cutting, processing or packaging | 112 |
| Work Setting: Meat processing and/or packing plant/establishment | 109 |
| Equipment and Machinery Experience: Knives | 96 |
| Work Site Environment: Cold/refrigerated | 93 |
| Tasks: Slaughter livestock and remove viscera and other inedible parts from carcasses | 92 |
| Tasks: Cut meat and poultry into specific cuts for institutional, commercial or other wholesale use | 89 |
| Construction Specialization: Team player | 87 |
| Hand-eye co-ordination | 86 |
| Work Site Environment: Noisy | 84 |
There are no formal education requirements for meat cutters. Many learn on the job. Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates or those with post-secondary meat industry education programs. On-the-job training takes 1 to 2 years depending on previous experience and education.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Meat cutters may work in:
In processing plants, meat cutters usually start on an assembly line. Retail trainees often start with routine work, such as removing bones. They gradually learn more complex skills, such as rolling and tying roasts.
Experienced meat cutters may advance to supervisory roles. For example, they may become the meat department manager in a supermarket or team coordinator in a processing plant. Some meat cutters open their own meat shops or move into sales, inspection, or quality control.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale
2016 NOC: 6331
80.4% of people in this occupational group work in:
Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
2016 NOC: 9462
93.3% of people in this occupational group work in:
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
This section shows the short-term demand forecasted for this occupation in Alberta over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Depending on the nature of their work, Meat cutters can be part of two larger 2011 National Occupational Classifications, 6331: Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale or 9462: Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.00 | $24.45 | $17.74 | $16.00 |
| Overall | $16.80 | $27.52 | $22.47 | $24.00 |
| Top | $18.00 | $34.62 | $26.27 | $25.92 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $37,078 |
|---|---|
| Retail Trade | $37,133 |
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $16.05 | $19.55 | $18.40 | $17.95 |
| Overall | $16.50 | $23.80 | $21.21 | $21.40 |
| Top | $21.30 | $26.00 | $23.28 | $23.50 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $44,086 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | $45,410 |
Canadian Professional Meat Cutters Association website: meatforce.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2022. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
