ANZSCO 3512

Butchers and Smallgoods Makers

Overview

EMPLOYED

14,300

PART-TIME SHARE

26%

FEMALE SHARE

10%

MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS

$1,550

MEDIAN AGE

40

ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH

100

About this data

Summary

Butchers and Smallgoods Makers select, cut, trim, prepare and arrange meat for sale and supply, operate meat and smallgoods processing machines, and manage the processes in the production of smallgoods.

Tasks

  • Preparing meat for sale by removing bones, trimming fat and cutting, mincing and grinding meat to shape and size for display or as ordered
  • Preparing crumbed cuts of meat, and marinating, seasoning and curing special cuts
  • Selecting and preparing meat to produce smallgoods
  • Operating machines to grind, mix, mince and tenderise meat
  • Making seasonings and pickles by mixing spices, salt and other ingredients
  • Operating sausage filling machines, smoking chambers, and cooking kettles and vats
  • Advising customers on the suitability and uses of cuts of meat
  • May assist in menu planning and scheduling, and in estimating food production costs

ANZSCO Classification

Details

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    Earnings and Hours

    Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
    Source: Share of workers who work full-time hours: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2025, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Average full-time hours worked per week: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Median full-time earnings per week and Median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
    Note: median earnings data have not been produced for some occupations where there is a high standard error, and are published with "N/A" values.
    Earnings and Hours Butchers and Smallgoods Makers All Occupations
    Share of workers who work full-time hours 74% 69%
    Average full-time hours worked per week 45 hours 44 hours
    Median full-time earnings per week $1,550 $1,852
    Median hourly earnings $28 $47

    Industries

    Butchers and Smallgoods Makers work in industries like:

    Source: Ranked using ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2025, four-quarter average data, custom report.
    Note: industries that comprise less than 5% of an occupation have been suppressed.

    States and territories

    New South Wales

    32.1%

    Victoria

    17.4%

    Queensland

    25.8%

    South Australia

    6.5%

    Tasmania

    3.4%

    Northern Territory

    0.9%

    Australian Capital Territory

    1.4%

    Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, Detailed, February 2026, Jobs and Skills Australia trend data.

    Age and gender

    Age and Gender Profile
    Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2025, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Age and Gender Butchers and Smallgoods Makers All Occupations
    Median age 40 years 39 years
    Female share of employment 10% 48%
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Age Profile (% Share) All Occupations Butchers and Smallgoods Makers
    15–19 5.2 8.1
    20–24 9.1 9.9
    25–34 22.7 21.3
    35–44 22.3 19.4
    45–54 20.4 19.8
    55–59 8.8 9.1
    60–64 6.5 7.4
    65 and Over 4.9 5.1

    Education

    Visit

    • Your Career to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Highest Level of Educational Attainment (% Share) All Occupations Butchers and Smallgoods Makers
    Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 12.2 0.5
    Bachelor degree 23.2 2.5
    Advanced Diploma/Diploma 11.1 2.2
    Certificate III/IV 19.5 56.6
    Year 12 15.9 12.9
    Year 11 4.0 4.1
    Year 10 and below 9.7 16.1
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      Occupation profiles data

      This file contains data displayed on the Occupation Profile pages.

      Use of data in this file must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      Occupation profiles data - February 2026.xlsx

      Occupation profiles data - February 2026.xlsx942127

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      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations

      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the skill-based classification system used to categorise occupations in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets. ANZSCO provides a basis for the standardised collection, analysis and dissemination of occupation data. Visit the ABS website to learn how ANZSCO works. Jobs and Skills Australia displays data for occupations that are defined by ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.3.