Slaughterers and meat packers
SOC Code: 51-3023
Slaughterers and meat packers carries a 30% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $39,790 and +2.2% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 69,600 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
Slaughterers and meat packers (SOC 51-3023) carries an AI exposure score of 30%, 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 69,600 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +2.2% change through 2034 — modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $39,790, 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 Slaughterers and meat packers. 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. Remove bones, and cut meat into standard cuts in preparation for marketing.
- 2. Sever jugular veins to drain blood and facilitate slaughtering.
- 3. Tend assembly lines, performing a few of the many cuts needed to process a carcass.
- 4. Shackle hind legs of animals to raise them for slaughtering or skinning.
- 5. Slit open, eviscerate, and trim carcasses of slaughtered animals.
- 6. Stun animals prior to slaughtering.
- 7. Skin sections of animals or whole animals.
- 8. Cut, trim, skin, sort, and wash viscera of slaughtered animals to separate edible portions from offal.
- 9. Shave or singe and defeather carcasses, and wash them in preparation for further processing or packaging.
- 10. Saw, split, or scribe carcasses into smaller portions to facilitate handling.
Key Skills Required
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Monitoring
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Troubleshooting
- Quality Control Analysis
- Active Learning
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Food Production
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Mathematics
- Administrative
- Administration and Management
- Sales and Marketing
- Public Safety and Security
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Slaughterers and meat packers?
Slaughterers and meat packers has an AI exposure score of 30%, 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 Slaughterers and meat packers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Slaughterers and meat packers is projected to grow by 2.2% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 69,600 workers.
What skills are needed for Slaughterers and meat packers?
Key skills for Slaughterers and meat packers include Speaking, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and others. Typical entry-level education is No formal educational credential.
How much do Slaughterers and meat packers earn?
The median annual wage for Slaughterers and meat packers is $39,790, 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 Slaughterers and meat packers?
The typical entry-level education for Slaughterers and meat packers 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 Slaughterers and meat packers?
Slaughterers and meat packers 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
Career Guides
Explore More on PlainWorkforce
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).