Many meat cutters belong to a union. Wages vary with level of training, experience and location. Entry level wages may be lower. Pay varies with the employer and location. Meat cutters and butchers who work for grocery stores earn top wages.
Butchers generally receive paid vacations, sick leave, health insurance, and life insurance.
Union workers often receive pension plans. Poultry cutters rarely earn these benefits, even if they work full time. There were 2,900 people employed as meat cutters in Indiana in 1998. An additional 630 people were employed as slaughterers and butchers. It is estimated that between 1996 and 2006, about 89 jobs per year for meat cutters and 13 jobs per year for slaughterers and butchers will need to be filled.