Jobs Similar to Butchers and Meat Cutters
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to butchers and meat cutters, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Cooks (Fast Food), Cooks (Restaurant) and Food Preparation Workers.
Butchers and Meat Cutters: $40,140 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Butchers and Meat Cutters) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cooks, Fast Food | 81% | $30,890−23% | High school |
| 2 | Cooks, Restaurant | 79% | $37,390−7% | High school |
| 3 | Food Preparation Workers | 78% | $35,320−12% | High school |
| 4 | Baristas | 78% | $31,200Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 5 | Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | 78% | $37,450−7% | High school |
| 6 | Cooks, Short Order | 77% | $35,880−11% | High school |
| 7 | BakersSame group | 77% | $37,160−7% | High school |
| 8 | Slaughterers and Meat PackersSame group | 76% | $40,1300% | High school |
| 9 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 75% | $33,980−15% | High school |
| 10 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 74% | $31,200−22% | High school |
| 11 | Driver/Sales Workers | 74% | $38,770−3% | High school |
| 12 | Cooks, Private Household | 74% | $47,940+19% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Chefs and Head Cooks | 74% | $62,470+56% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | 73% | $35,360−12% | High school |
| 15 | Bartenders | 73% | $34,340−14% | High school |
| 16 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 72% | $37,330−7% | High school |
| 17 | Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersSame group | 72% | $38,300−5% | High school |
| 18 | Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 71% | $35,510−12% | High school |
| 19 | Food Service Managers | 71% | $69,390+73% | High school |
| 20 | Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products | 70% | $35,730−11% | High school |
- 1Cooks, Fast Food
81% similar · $30,890 (−23%) · High school
- 2Cooks, Restaurant
79% similar · $37,390 (−7%) · High school
- 3Food Preparation Workers
78% similar · $35,320 (−12%) · High school
- 4Baristas
78% similar · $31,200 (broader group) · High school
- 5Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
78% similar · $37,450 (−7%) · High school
- 6Cooks, Short Order
77% similar · $35,880 (−11%) · High school
- 7Bakers
77% similar · $37,160 (−7%) · High school · Same group
- 8Slaughterers and Meat Packers
76% similar · $40,130 (0%) · High school · Same group
- 9Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
75% similar · $33,980 (−15%) · High school
- 10Fast Food and Counter Workers
74% similar · $31,200 (−22%) · High school
- 11Driver/Sales Workers
74% similar · $38,770 (−3%) · High school
- 12Cooks, Private Household
74% similar · $47,940 (+19%) · Training or associate
- 13Chefs and Head Cooks
74% similar · $62,470 (+56%) · Training or associate
- 14Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
73% similar · $35,360 (−12%) · High school
- 15Bartenders
73% similar · $34,340 (−14%) · High school
- 16Stockers and Order Fillers
72% similar · $37,330 (−7%) · High school
- 17Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
72% similar · $38,300 (−5%) · High school · Same group
- 18Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
71% similar · $35,510 (−12%) · High school
- 19Food Service Managers
71% similar · $69,390 (+73%) · High school
- 20Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
70% similar · $35,730 (−11%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than butchers and meat cutters.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for butchers and meat cutters also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where butchers and meat cutters is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like butchers and meat cutters
What jobs are most similar to butchers and meat cutters?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Cooks (Fast Food) (81% similar), Cooks (Restaurant) (79% similar), Food Preparation Workers (78% similar), Baristas (78% similar) and Cooks (Institution and Cafeteria) (78% similar).
Which jobs like butchers and meat cutters pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Food Service Managers ($69,390, +73%; usually a high school diploma), Chefs and Head Cooks ($62,470, +56%; usually training or an associate degree) and Cooks (Private Household) ($47,940, +19%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with butchers and meat cutters ($40,140). Without more preparation than butchers and meat cutters usually need: Food Service Managers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.