Meat cutter: tasks and pay
- €17 to €23gross per hour, indicative
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What does a meat cutter earn?
Indicative estimate, not a measurement
€17 to €23
gross per hour
Estimate by Werkvolk, updated on 15 September 2026.
Indicative Belgian pay range: €17 to €23 gross per hour. Shift premiums, experience and working in a cold environment can raise your wage. Employee pay estimate; actual pay depends on experience, sector pay scales and working hours. Premiums, overtime and benefits are separate.
How do I become a meat cutter? See the guideThe job at a glance
- What you doAs a meat cutter you cut up animal carcasses and bone and trim the pieces of meat.
- What you needGood knife skills and a steady, precise handStrict respect for hygiene and food safety rules
What does a meat cutter do?
As a meat cutter you cut up animal carcasses and bone and trim the pieces of meat. You receive and sort carcasses, identify the types of meat and pack the finished products while sorting and removing offal. As a deboner or meat processor you keep your knives sharp, clean your tools and maintain your work station. You work closely to the rules of safety, hygiene and food safety. In Belgium this is a manual profession in the food industry, close to trade and the food chain.
Typical tasks
- Receive and sort the carcasses
- Identify the types of meat
- Cut up carcasses and cut the meat
- Bone and trim the meat
- Pack the food products
- Sort and remove the offal
- Clean the tools and maintain your work station
Required skills
- Good knife skills and a steady, precise hand
- Strict respect for hygiene and food safety rules
- Physical stamina for standing work in a cold environment
- Attention to the quality and grade of the meat
- Willingness to work in shifts in a production plant
Frequently asked questions
What does a meat cutter do?
A meat cutter cuts up animal carcasses and bones and trims the pieces of meat. You receive and sort the carcasses, identify the types of meat and pack the finished products. You also sort and remove offal, clean your tools and work strictly according to the rules of safety, hygiene and food safety.
How much does a meat cutter earn in Belgium?
Indicative Belgian pay range: €17 to €23 gross per hour. Shift premiums, experience and working in a cold environment can raise your wage. Employee pay estimate; actual pay depends on experience, sector pay scales and working hours. Premiums, overtime and benefits are separate.
In which environments does a meat cutter work?
You mainly work in the food industry, in slaughterhouses, cutting plants and meat processing companies. The environment is cold and hygienic, and the work is manual and physical. It sits close to trade and the food chain, so speed, accuracy and food safety are central to the job.
What is the difference between a meat cutter and a slaughterhouse worker?
A slaughterhouse worker handles the earlier steps around slaughtering and preparing the carcasses. A meat cutter takes those carcasses and cuts, bones and trims them into the pieces of meat for sale or further processing. The tasks overlap on the line, but the meat cutter focuses on the precise cutting and deboning.
Is there demand for meat cutters in Flanders?
Cutting plants and meat processing companies across Flanders regularly look for meat cutters and deboners. It is skilled manual work that is hard to fully automate, so trained cutters who work quickly and hygienically are welcome. Many companies are happy to train motivated starters on the job.