Best institutions to study 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.
10 U.S. institutions graduated 48 Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 12.0506, a specialization of Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05), and leads most directly to the Butchers and Meat Cutters occupation (BLS SOC 51-3021).
About Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter programs
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: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter program is designed for individuals interested in the culinary arts, specifically in the preparation and handling of meat products. This program equips students with the skills needed to work as licensed meat cutters or butchers in commercial establishments, focusing on both retail and wholesale operations.
Students will gain knowledge in various aspects of meat handling, including product recognition for different types of meats, cutting techniques, packaging, sanitation, and customer service. The curriculum emphasizes safety and quality control in meat processing.
Credentials awarded
What Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year34 graduates / yr · 6 institutions71%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years13 graduates / yr · 4 institutions27%
- Associate's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.1%
Graduates over time
Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 61 |
| 2013 | 41 |
| 2014 | 28 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2016 | 28 |
| 2017 | 36 |
| 2018 | 28 |
| 2019 | 46 |
| 2020 | 31 |
| 2021 | 35 |
| 2022 | 28 |
| 2023 | 54 |
| 2024 | 60 |
| 2025 | 48 |
Top 10 institutions for Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Fennimore, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 66% | — |
| 2 | Bridgerland Technical College Logan, UTPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 7 | 75% | — |
| 3 | Madison Area Technical College Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 29% | — |
| 4 | Central Lakes College - Brainerd Brainerd, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 53% | — |
| 5 | GateWay Community College - Central City Phoenix, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 55% | — |
| 6 | Ridgewater College Willmar, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 50% | — |
| 7 | Eastern Oklahoma State College Wilburton, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 3 | 27% | — |
| 8 | North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton, NDPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 2 | 55% | — |
| 9 | Walters State Community College Morristown, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 2 | 33% | — |
| 10 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Elizabethton Elizabethton, TNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 81% | — |
Offered in 7 states
Where Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter graduates come from. Each state links to all Culinary Arts and Related Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 2 | 19 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical College12 / yr |
| Minnesota | 2 | 9 | Central Lakes College - Brainerd5 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 7 | Bridgerland Technical College7 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 5 | GateWay Community College - Central City5 / yr |
| Tennessee | 2 | 3 | Walters State Community College2 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 3 | Eastern Oklahoma State College3 / yr |
| North Dakota | 1 | 2 | North Dakota State College of Science2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 51-3021, Butchers and Meat Cutters, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter program can pursue careers as butchers and meat cutters, with an outlook showing little or no change in job availability. The median wage for this occupation is approximately $38,960, with around 16,900 annual openings expected. Typically, no formal educational credential is required for entry into this field.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 12.0506
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Butchers and Meat Cuttersprimary SOC 51-3021 | $40,140 | +1.0% Little or no change | ~16,900 | No formal educational credential |
Slaughterers and Meat Packers SOC 51-3023 | $40,130 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~8,400 | No formal educational credential |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Prepare and place meat cuts and products in display counter to appear attractive and catch the shopper's eye.
- Wrap, weigh, label, and price cuts of meat.
- Cut, trim, bone, tie, and grind meats, such as beef, pork, poultry, and fish, to prepare in cooking form.
- Prepare special cuts of meat ordered by customers.
- Receive, inspect, and store meat upon delivery to ensure meat quality.
- Estimate requirements and order or requisition meat supplies to maintain inventories.
Tools and technology used
Other Culinary Arts and Related Services specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05).
- Culinary Arts/CIP 12.0503
Chef Training 11,808 graduates / yr353 institutions - Baking and Pastry Arts/CIP 12.0501
Baker/ Pastry Chef 5,575 graduates / yr193 institutions - Cooking and Related Culinary ArtsCIP 12.05004,439 graduates / yr153 institutions
- Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/CIP 12.0504
Manager 1,663 graduates / yr115 institutions - Food Preparation/CIP 12.0505
Professional Cooking/ Kitchen Assistant 1,230 graduates / yr56 institutions - Culinary Arts and Related ServicesCIP 12.0599312 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Culinary Science/CIP 12.0509
Culinology partial data261 graduates / yr8 institutions - Institutional Food WorkersCIP 12.0508187 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Bartending/CIP 12.0502
Bartender partial data171 graduates / yr8 institutions - Food Service, Waiter/CIP 12.0507
Waitress, and Dining Room Management/ Manager partial data129 graduates / yr9 institutions - Wine Steward/CIP 12.0510
Sommelier limited data12 graduates / yr2 institutions
Common questions
What does the Meat Cutting program cover?+
The program covers meat preparation, cutting techniques, packaging, sanitation, and customer service.
What kind of jobs can I get after completing this program?+
Graduates can work as butchers, meat cutters, or in related positions in the meat industry.
What is the expected salary for meat cutters?+
The median wage for meat cutters is approximately $38,960 per year.
Is prior experience required to enroll in this program?+
No formal educational credential is typically required to enter this field.
What is the CIP code for Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter?+
Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter is CIP 12.0506 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05). NCES defines it as: 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.
How many institutions offer Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter programs?+
10 U.S. institutions reported Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 48 credentials in the year. That is 0.2% of all Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates.
How much do Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Butchers and Meat Cutters occupation, which Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter most directly leads to, pays a median of $40,140 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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