Prepared meat operator
Also known as: meat machine operator, meat processor, processed meat operators, meat manufacturer, meat process worker
About this occupation
Prepared meat operators process meat either by hand or using meat machines such as meat grinding, crushing or mixing machines. They perform preservation processes such as pasteurising, salting, drying, freeze-drying, fermenting and smoking. Prepared meat operators strive to keep meat free from germs and other health risks for a longer period than fresh meat.
Essential skills and knowledge
- execute chilling processes to food products
- ensure refrigeration of food in the supply chain
- produce meat-based jelly preparations
- tend meat processing production machines
- prepare specialised meat products
- use mechanically separated meat
- cope with blood
- typology of meat parts
- process livestock organs
- manage packaging material
- adhere to organisational guidelines
- cultural practices regarding animal parts sorting
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Butchers and Meat Cutters (O*NET 51-3021.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- 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.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Enterprising
Top skills: Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness
US median pay: US$40,140 a year (2025), 136,430 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Agriculture or Foods and NutritionO*NET: Food ProductionVery important (3.9)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- 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.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers
- Cooks, Restaurant
- Food Preparation Workers
- Bakers
- Cooks, Short Order
- Chefs and Head Cooks
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
- Food Batchmakers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.