Process control and machine operators use single- or multi-function machines to process and package food/beverage products.
A. Industrial butchers slaughter livestock as well as skin, clean, and trim carcasses into smaller portions. They may slaughter livestock according to religious laws.
B. Industrial meat cutters cut carcasses for further cutting or processing, and cut meat and poultry into specific cuts for wholesale use.
C. Fish plant machine operators set up and run the machinery to process/package fish products.
D. Fish plant cutters and cleaners cut, trim, and clean fish by hand.
E. Tobacco processing machine operators prepare and treat tobacco leaves, and produce tobacco products.
F. Testers and graders test and grade ingredients and finished food, beverage, and tobacco products.
1. Food manufacturing - 80.0%
2. Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing - 9.0%
3. Wholesale trade - 3.0%
4. Farms - 2.0%
5. Retail trade - 2.0%
1. You may need some high school or a high school diploma.
2. You may also need experience in your particular industry or occupation.
3. You usually receive on-the-job training.
4. To be an industrial meat cutter, you must complete an industrial meat-cutting program or have experience as an industrial butcher or trimmer.
5. Most recent entrants have a community college diploma.
3. Machine Shop
The average hourly wages for Machine Operators and Related Workers in Food, Beverage and Tobacco Processing is $14.13/HR, which is close to the average for occupations in the processing, manufacturing and utilities sector and are close to the average for all intermediate occupations. These wages grew at an average rate from 2002 to 2004.