How to become a fishmonger or poultry dresser

Official title: Fishmongers and poultry dressers

Also called: Fishmonger, Crab dresser, Poultry hand, Poultry dresser, Poultry sticker, Game bird dresser, Poultry processor, Fishmonger's assistant, Fish dealer, Fish gutter, Fish header, Fish monger

Fishmongers and poultry dressers clean, cut and prepare fish and poultry for processing or sale.

Main tasks

• Scrubs, de-scales, heads, guts, washes and bones fish
• Cuts and slits fish for curing by hand or machine
• Care for livestock prior to processing and through the slaughter stage
• Handles through manual or mechanical means; the removal of feathers and internal organs, the extraction of edible offal, the removal of feet and head from poultry carcasses, trims, fillets, portions, trusses, dresses, weighs or prepares for packing
• Handles through manual or mechanical means; the weighing, labelling, packing and stacking of finished product as required
• Oversees quality assurance, food hygiene, product changeover, or other food production KPIs, and supervise others who are conducting tasks as required
• Responsible for ensuring all slaughter and poultry processing equipment and plant goes through a gross debris clearance, power washed with water lances, food safety detergents application, rinsed with water, sanitiser application ensuring that it reaches the required food hygiene standards

How to become one

Academic qualifications are not normally required. Training is typically provided on-the-job.

Ways in

• Apprenticeship (England): Fishmonger (level 2). England. Typically 18 months. Skills England standard ST0194.

Pay · Outlook

• Median full-time pay: £25,394 a year

Related jobs

• Butchers
• Bakers and flour confectioners
• Chefs
• Cooks
• Catering and bar managers

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Questions people ask

How do I become a fishmonger or poultry dresser?

Academic qualifications are not normally required. Training is typically provided on-the-job.

How much does a fishmonger or poultry dresser earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £25,394 a year (Office for National Statistics).

Sources

• Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), 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
• Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03