How to become a Slaughterer

Slaughters livestock and prepares carcasses for further processing by removing internal organs and hides for consumption.

Main tasks

• Receives livestock for slaughter and inspects them for any signs of disease or injury
• Operates stunning equipment to render livestock unconscious before slaughter
• Uses knives and other tools to slaughter livestock according to industry standards and regulations
• Removes internal organs and hides from carcasses, and separates them for further processing
• Cleans and maintains work areas and equipment used in the slaughtering process
• Packs and labels carcasses for transportation to further processing facilities
• Adheres to animal welfare standards and regulations throughout the slaughtering process

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Meat Processing (Slaughtering) (AMP30516)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $84,604 a year
• About 5,600 people work in this job group now, and about 5,400 are projected by 2035. (-3.4%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

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• Meat Boner and Slicer
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• Confectionery Maker
• Dairy Products Factory Worker

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Slaughterer?

Ways in include: Certificate III in Meat Processing (Slaughtering).

How much does a Slaughterer earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $84,604 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Slaughterer a growing career in Australia?

Employment is projected to fall 3% by 2035, from about 5,600 to about 5,400 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Slaughterer?

Usually not. Only 6% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Meat Processing (Slaughtering).

Will AI change the work of a Slaughterer?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04