by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 10 U.S. colleges awarded 48 degrees and certificates in Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 71% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $24,237 one year after completing, rising to $36,678 after four years.
A degree in Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter covers Meat Cutting/meat Cutter. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Receive, Cut, And Package Animal Meat Products In Commercial Establishments And To Function As Licensed Meat Cutters/butchers. Includes Instruction In Product Recognition For Beef, Veal, Lamb, Pork, Poultry, And Fancy And Smoked Meats; Retail And Wholesale Cutting And Specialty Cuts; Packaging And Counter Display; Shop Safety; Meat Sanitation, Storage And Rotation; Quality Control; Meat Handling Laws And Regulations; And Customer Service.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., meat cutting/meat cutter is a widely-pursued major, with 48 degrees awarded annually. 10 colleges award meat cutting/meat cutter degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 12.
By level, the 48 awards include 13 certificates, 1 associate degrees and 34 master’s degrees.
Women earned 44% of meat cutting/meat cutter degrees and certificates in the latest year (21 of 48). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (40) and Hispanic or Latino (5).
The most common meat cutting/meat cutter credential is the master’s degree: 34 of the 48 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to meat cutting/meat cutter call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Food Production and Production and Processing, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Arm-Hand Steadiness, Finger Dexterity and Manual Dexterity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a meat cutting/meat cutter degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 13 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 34 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to meat cutting/meat cutter, at 61.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 61.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 27.9% |
| Some college courses | 10.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter, with an average median salary of $49,176; the strongest outlook belongs to Slaughterers and Meat Packers, at 8.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Meat Clerk, Butcher, Meat Associate and Meat Dresser.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to meat cutting/meat cutter, at 234,346.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | 234,346 | 8.3% |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | 23,218 | 7.3% |
Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter graduates earn a median $24,237 one year after completing their program, $36,678 after four years and $32,093 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,237 |
| 4 years | $36,678 |
| 5 years | $32,093 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to meat cutting/meat cutter is Butchers and Meat Cutters, with a median salary of $50,662.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $50,662 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $47,691 |
Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter has 11 similar majors in the Personal & Culinary Services field, which together award 25,788 degrees a year; the largest are Culinary Arts/Chef Training (11,809), Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef (5,575) and Culinary Arts and Related Services (4,439). Browse all Personal & Culinary Services majors or the full list of college majors.
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