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Meat Boners and Slicers, and Slaughterers

ANZSCO 8312

Employed

7,500

Part-time share

5%

Female share

23%

Median weekly earnings

$1,627

Median age

38 yrs

Employment outlook

Growing

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia · ABS 2021 Census of Population and Housing.

About this career

Meat Boners and Slicers, and Slaughterers trim and cut meat from bones, sides and carcasses, and slaughter livestock in abattoirs.

What they typically do

  • Operating switching controls to direct and drop carcasses and meat cuts from supply rails to boning tables
  • Cutting meat to separate meat, fat and tissue from around bones
  • Washing, scraping and trimming foreign material and blood from meat
  • Cutting sides and quarters of meat into standard meat cuts, such as rumps, flanks and shoulders, and removing internal fat, blood clots, bruises and other matter to prepare them for packing and marketing
  • Operating restrainer and stunning equipment
  • Severing jugular veins of stunned animals to drain blood and facilitate dressing
  • Trimming and removing head meat and severing animal heads
  • Slitting open, eviscerating and trimming animal carcasses
  • May slaughter livestock according to procedures required by religious customs

States and territories

Share of workers by location

QLD
41%
VIC
28.6%
WA
13.4%
SA
6.6%
NSW
4.2%
TAS
3.5%
NT
1.4%
ACT
1.4%

Qualification pathways

These accredited qualifications can lead to a career as a Meat Boners and Slicers, and Slaughterers.

  • Certificate III in Meat Processing (Boning Room)

    AMP30116 · AQF 3 · 27 providers

    View qualification
  • Certificate III in Meat Processing (Slaughtering)

    AMP30516 · AQF 3 · 29 providers

    View qualification