Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
SOC Code: 51-3022
Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers carries a 29% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $37,700 and +5.5% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 146,800 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers (SOC 51-3022) carries an AI exposure score of 29%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 146,800 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +5.5% change through 2034 — modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $37,700, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires No formal educational credential, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Use knives, cleavers, meat saws, bandsaws, or other equipment to perform meat cutting and trimming.
- 2. Weigh meats and tag containers for weight and contents.
- 3. Process primal parts into cuts that are ready for retail use.
- 4. Inspect meat products for defects, bruises or blemishes and remove them along with any excess fat.
- 5. Cut and trim meat to prepare for packing.
- 6. Separate meats and byproducts into specified containers and seal containers.
- 7. Prepare ready-to-heat foods by filleting meat or fish or cutting it into bite-sized pieces, preparing and adding vegetables or applying sauces or breading.
- 8. Clean, trim, slice, and section carcasses for future processing.
- 9. Remove parts, such as skin, feathers, scales or bones, from carcass.
- 10. Obtain and distribute specified meat or carcass.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
- Time Management
- Service Orientation
- Instructing
Knowledge Areas
- Production and Processing
- Food Production
- Public Safety and Security
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Mechanical
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Transportation
- Education and Training
- English Language
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers?
Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers has an AI exposure score of 29%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers is projected to grow by 5.5% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 146,800 workers.
What skills are needed for Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers?
Key skills for Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers include Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, and others. Typical entry-level education is No formal educational credential.
How much do Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers earn?
The median annual wage for Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers is $37,700, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers?
The typical entry-level education for Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers is No formal educational credential. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers?
Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).