two females in food safe clothing, gloves and hairnets handling red meat, while one of the women holds a clipboard

Meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale

(NOC 65202)
Annual Earnings
$49,637
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
No Formal Education
Job Openings
(2024-2034)
420

Career Overview

Meat cutters and fishmongers in retail and wholesale prepare and package meat, poultry and fish.  

People in this occupation:

  • Work in grocery stores and fish stores 
  • May also be self-employed
  • Use tools to cut, trim and package meat, poultry and fish
  • Have product knowledge, as well as familiarity with food handling, food safety, food preparation and presentation

Job Titles

Butcher helper - retail and wholesale
Fish cutter - retail or wholesale
Fishmonger
Fishmonger - retail
Meat cutter - retail or wholesale
Meat portion cutter - retail or wholesale
Pork cutter - retail or wholesale
Retail meat cutter
Supermarket meat cutter

Duties

Meat cutters, wholesale and retail, perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Grind meats and slice cooked meats using power grinders and slicing machines
  • Cut, weigh, package, label and price meat, meat products, fish and seafood for sale
  • Suggest complementary or alternative meat or fish products to consumers
  • Inspect the quality of meat, fish and seafood and expiry dates and ensure proper product rotation
  • Ensure the maintenance of equipment, displays and work area
  • Receive and display meat, poultry, fish and seafood in accordance with the company's established standards
  • Comply with government health and safety standards and occupational health and safety standards

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$49,637

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$32.42/hr
Median$23.80/hr
Low$17.40/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2024 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

970

% Employed Full Time

64%
Source: 2021 Census

In many retail markets, meat cutters work with little or no equipment, cut very little meat and mainly handle "retail-ready" cuts of meat.

These workers are typically less experienced and paid lower wages.

Meat cutters are at risk of injuries caused by working with knives, cleavers and various power tools, so they must pay attention to detail and work with care. The repetitive nature of the work can lead to muscle pain or repetitive stress disorders.

Some larger commercial employers have adjusted employee workloads or redesigned tasks and tools to create a safer and healthier work environment.

Career Pathways

Individuals entering this occupation typically find employment in entry-level positions (i.e., clean-up or delivery person) in a large organization. If these employees prove reliable and are good with customers, they can be considered for an apprenticeship.

Qualified meat cutters who have experience may progress to supervisory positions in large organizations, including department managers, in-store supervisors, operations managers or company managers. It is also possible to undertake specialty consulting, become the owner-operator of a smaller store or custom meat operation, or work as a meat inspector in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Progression from industrial meat cutter positions to higher skilled jobs is possible with experience and on-the-job training in supermarkets, grocery stores and fish stores.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic

Education, Training and Skills

Completion of secondary school may be required. Other requirements may include:

  • Completion of a meat cutting apprenticeship
  • On-the-job training
  • Voluntary trade certification, which is helpful in gaining employment 

Food industry unions in B.C. may offer financial training or support towards entry-level training courses. Large meat cutting plants frequently hire workers with no previous experience and provide minimal training for a specified task.

For more information, please see SkilledTradesBC's website at https://skilledtradesbc.ca.

Those who are certified for an occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

Contact SkilledTradesBC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

Trades training resources

Visit our trades training page at www.workbc.ca/trades to learn about apprenticeship and trades training in B.C.

Education programs in B.C.

EducationPlannerBC Logo
Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

53%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

50%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

50%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

50%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

48%
Time Management

Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

48%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

48%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

47%
Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

46%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

42%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

970
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 20 2.1%
Kootenay 50 5.2%
Mainland/Southwest 505 52.1%
North Coast and Nechako 15 1.5%
Northeast 25 2.6%
Thompson-Okanagan 105 10.8%
Vancouver Island/Coast 250 25.8%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)

420
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)

Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 0 0.2%
Kootenay 10 1.0%
Mainland/Southwest 290 1.7%
North Coast and Nechako 10 1.8%
Northeast 10 0.7%
Thompson-Okanagan 30 0.5%
Vancouver Island/Coast 70 0.2%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2024-2034)
Retail Trade420
Accommodation and Food Services10
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources