SOC 51-3021
Butchers and Meat Cutters
Risk Score
⚠️61/100
High Risk
US Employment
👥140,040
Total workers
Median Wage
💰$39K
$29K – $57K
Projected Growth
📈+1%
2023-2033 (BLS)
GenAI Exposure
🤖53/100
Moderate exposure
💡 Butchers and Meat Cutters face a risk score of 61/100 — 17 points above the national average of 44. With 53/100 GenAI exposure, this occupation faces significant pressure from AI tools despite strong projected growth. See our methodology →
💡 Workers in this field earn $39K. The 3 recommended career transitions all maintain competitive wages while reducing automation exposure. Explore transition paths →
🔍 AI Impact Analysis
With a risk score of 61/100, Butchers and Meat Cutters faces moderate automation pressure. While tasks like predictive maintenance reducing manual inspection roles are increasingly handled by AI, the role retains significant human elements. The 140,040 workers in this occupation should focus on strengthening skills in setup and calibration of custom production runs and coordinating workflow across diverse production teams to stay ahead. The role will likely evolve rather than disappear.
Will AI Replace Butchers and Meat Cutters?
Read our full analysis with verdict, risk factors, safe tasks, and career transition paths →
⚠️ Top Risk Factors
Predictive maintenance reducing manual inspection roles
Industrial robotics replacing manual assembly tasks
Cobots handling repetitive material handling tasks
AI quality inspection via computer vision systems
🛡️ Tasks Safe from Automation
Setup and calibration of custom production runs
Coordinating workflow across diverse production teams
Handling non-standard materials and configurations
📊 vs National Average
National avg: $46K
National avg: 44/100
National avg: 38/100
National avg: 3.7%
🔄 Career Transition Paths
| Occupation | Risk | Wage | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineers | 20 | $106K | 67% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | 25 | $62K | 57% |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | 33 | $68K | 71% |