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Also known as: Abalone Processor, Animal Eviscerator, Animal Skinner, Animal Sticker
The chill hits you immediately as you step into the processing plant, even before your shift officially begins at 5 AM. You quickly change into your sanitized smock, hairnet, and steel-toed boots. After grabbing your personal boning knife and a sharpener from your locker, you don a heavy-duty mesh glove on your non-dominant hand. The humming of machinery in the distance signals the start of another demanding day in the controlled, cold environment.
Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.
O*NET flags this career as a Bright Outlook occupation: grows rapidly over the next decade.
+5.7%
US average: +3.5%
17,000
per year (US)
149,800
in 2025 → 158,300 (2035)
No formal educational credential
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.
Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)
This career is growing, with a projected employment change of +5.7% through 2035 and about 17,000 job openings each year. The median annual wage is around $38,300. With experience, you can advance into specialized roles like a specialty butcher or move into supervisory positions within food production.
Career ladder
Often before this role
Where it can lead
$38,300
Median annual wage, BLS 2025
Bachelor's Degree
Minimum educational requirement for this position
Based on job level & field
Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter
Bachelor • Social Sciences • 4 years
Agricultural and Food Products Processing
Bachelor • Nature & Environment • 4 years
Food Technology and Processing
Bachelor • Nature & Environment • 4 years
Food Science
Bachelor • Nature & Environment • 4 years
Poultry Science
Bachelor • Nature & Environment • 4 years
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management
Bachelor • Nature & Environment • 4 years