Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Selling or Influencing Others Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.

The Work

The Retail Butcher cuts up and prepares animal carcasses for retail sales. The range of duties includes preparing, displaying, weighing and wrapping cuts of meat for sale. The Retail Butcher also handles cash and serves at the counter. The Retail Butcher may manufacture sausage and burger type products and also prepare cured meat and marinated products. He/she must have a thorough knowledge about cuts of meat in order to advise customers. The retail butcher must also clean equipment and working areas regularly and sharpen knives and other tools.    

The Butcher must adhere to Food Hygiene and Safety Legislation as well as maintaining health and safety standards in their workplace. As a retail role he will also need to interact with and provide information to consumers.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Prepare and place meat cuts and products in display counter to appear attractive and catch the shopper's eye.
• Wrap, weigh, label, and price cuts of meat.
• Cut, trim, bone, tie, and grind meats, such as beef, pork, poultry, and fish, to prepare in cooking form.
• Prepare special cuts of meat ordered by customers.
• Receive, inspect, and store meat upon delivery to ensure meat quality.
• Estimate requirements and order or requisition meat supplies to maintain inventories.
• Shape, lace, and tie roasts, using boning knife, skewer, and twine.
• Total sales, and collect money from customers.
• Record quantity of meat received and issued to cooks or keep records of meat sales.
• Supervise other butchers or meat cutters.

Further Information

• Butcher - Retail - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Butcher - Retail - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Apprenticeship Route

The official entry route for a Butcher - Retail is through undertaking an apprenticeship.

Click here to find information on the Butcher apprenticeship

The career path to becoming a qualified butcher is as follows:

Secure an apprenticeship with a company, Association of Craft Butchers ireland.

The apprentice will spend three/four years in training with his/her employer during which time instruction in all the skills required to become a qualified butcher will be given.  

Having completed the relevant courses and passed the examinations the apprentice is awarded the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland (ACBI) NFQ level 5. 

All food workers must have completed both Food Hygiene and HACCP courses to be allowed by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to engage in food work.

An NFQ Level 5 apprenticeship National Certificate in Butchering Skills Course is available through ACBI 

Last Updated: March, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €45k

Salaries vary by employer, location, duties, role, and experience

Data Source(s):
Excel/ Indeed

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

This occupation had a negative annual average employment growth rate over the five-year period, although there was some growth in the year since 2021. The CSO Census data shows that employment levels for butchers fell between 2016 and 2022; the fall was greatest for those employed in the retail sector, although there were also declines for those employed in manufacturing (in 2022, 59% of butchers were employed in wholesale/retail and 37% were in manufacturing). Over half of those employed as bakers and flour confectioners in 2022 were working in manufacturing, with a further 30% in retail.

At 42%, this occupation had a far higher share employed who were non Irish citizens than the national average. The relatively high volume of employment permits were primarily for meat deboners and skilled knifemen. In addition the skills for growth data highlights issues with recruitment of experienced bakers. There was a high volume of vacancies advertised with DSP Jobs Ireland for meat deboners and skilled knifepersons, with a smaller share for pastry chefs and bakers.

Climate targets may impact the future demand for butchers and meat processing activities. Although no shortages are evident from the data, issues with the attractiveness of the job may potentially cause issues in sourcing suitable candidates. 

• Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland (ACBI)

  • Dundrum Road, Dublin 14
  • (01) 868 2820
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here