How to become a Butcher
Official title: Butchers
Also called: Butcher, Master butcher, Retail butcher, Butcher-driver, Butcher-manager, Butcher's cutter, Butcher's shopman, Butcher's assistant, Butcher's machinist, First hand, Meat cutter, Meat cleaner
Butchers direct and undertake the slaughter of animals and prepare carcasses for storage, processing and sale.
Main tasks
- Slaughters animal and removes skin, hide, hairs, internal organs, etc.
- Cuts or saws carcasses into manageable portions
- Removes bones, gristle, surplus fat, rind and other waste material
- Cuts carcass parts into chops, joints, steaks, etc. for sale
- Prepares meat for curing or other processing cleans tools and work surfaces
How to become one
There are no formal academic requirements although some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically by apprenticeship. NVQs/SVQs are available at levels 2 and 3. Professional qualifications are also available.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Abattoir worker (level 2). England. Typically 16 months. Skills England standard ST0418.
- Apprenticeship (England): Advanced butcher (level 3). England. Typically 18 months. Skills England standard ST0077.
- Apprenticeship (England): Butcher (level 2). England. Typically 18 months. Skills England standard ST0078.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £28,859 a year The middle half earn £25,989 to £32,218.
- About 30,600 people work in this job now, and about 30,700 are projected by 2035. (+0.2%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Butcher?
There are no formal academic requirements although some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically by apprenticeship. NVQs/SVQs are available at levels 2 and 3. Professional qualifications are also available.
How much does a Butcher earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £28,859 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £25,989 to £32,218.
Is a Butcher a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 30,600 people now and 30,700 later (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a Butcher?
Usually not. Only 10% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Abattoir worker (level 2).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03