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Butcher Salary Australia

Butcher Salary / Wage

sol-australia

Salary and wage information for butchers is compiled regularly by analysis of Australian jobs advertised in major publications. Salaries are annual unless otherwise stated.

The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations Code (ANZSCO) for butchers or smallgoods makers is 351211.

Job titles and exact tasks vary in this work and examples of some occupation titles are butcher, retail butcher, qualified butcher, head butcher and apprentice butcher.

This occupation is currently on the Australian Combined Skilled Occupation List, (Short-term Skilled Occupation List, STSOL).

The average Australian weekly full-time ordinary earnings across all occupations in mid-2018 were $1,586, giving an annual income of approximately $82,472. This was 2.6% higher than in mid-2017.*

Data supplied from Indeed over the past 36 months, based on over 140 salaries, estimated that the average salary for a butcher was $55,365 per year in Australia.

Butcher Salaries / Wages in 2018

Job TitleSalary / Wage $Location
Store Manager-Senior Butcher

65,000 – 80,000 Sydney, New South Wales
Trade Qualified Butcher

55,000 – 65,000 Sydney, New South Wales
Butchers & Apprentices

45,000 – 60,000 Melbourne, Victoria
Casual Butcher

$25 – $30 per hour Sunshine Coast
Butcher – Retail

$30 – $35 per hour Brisbane, Queensland
Retail / Wholesale Butcher Assistant Manager

50,000 – 70,000 Brisbane, Queensland
Butcher

$30 – $35 per hour Perth, Western Australia
Boning Room Supervisor

70,000 – 75,000 Perth, Western Australia

*Source:ABS

These pages may also be of interest:

  • Baker Salaries
  • Chef Salaries
  • Laboratory Technician Salaries
  • Mechanic Salaries
  • Plumber Salaries
  • Refrigeration Mechanic Salaries

Comments

  1. over it says

    April 4, 2018 at 5:47 pm

    This industry is a disgrace. We work soo hard, and are qualified tradespeople. We are the only people who can do these tasks, and yet any job is the same if not better paying considering the hours we work and the dangers and wear and tear on the body. If you want to find the best job to have your entitlements and conditions stripped from you, and you want your wage in decline, look no further than the meat industry. I’ve been qualified for 20 years. The cleaners get paid more than me per hour.

    Reply
  2. Garry says

    February 20, 2018 at 8:35 pm

    I’m a retired butcher after 43 years in the trade. It used to be well paid but for the last 25 years it has fallen WAY behind. The union is as weak as water and should be disbanded. Look what the shoppies union has achieved for it’s members in the same time. The 18 year old checkout chick (or rooster?) gets $5 per hour more than the butcher down the back of the store. The butcher did a 3-4 year apprenticeship and in most cases supply their own tools of trade. Stay away from this job !!

    Reply
    • Hilly says

      March 2, 2019 at 9:35 pm

      That’s very true

      Reply
  3. Cindy says

    November 25, 2017 at 3:51 pm

    Hi how much does a junior first yr apprentice earn

    Reply
    • Garry says

      February 20, 2018 at 8:23 pm

      First year apprentice wage is 50% butcher award, around $10 hour.

      Reply
  4. Lucas says

    August 3, 2017 at 6:39 pm

    I’m considering doing a butcher apprenticeship. Is it worth doing or a bricklayer one? Got job offers for both

    Reply
  5. Anthony says

    June 28, 2016 at 3:51 pm

    I’m a butcher and I just been offered $1600 a week Monday to Friday doing 50 hours a week …! Best offer I have been given ! Just gotta look for the right place ! I know the butcher trade not good anymore but follow the money when you can don’t stick to one shop

    Reply
    • Michael says

      July 31, 2016 at 6:44 am

      Antony. Hi where are you earning this kind of wage? What level of butchery are you? I’ve 25 years experience and would love that kinda money.

      Reply
  6. Terry says

    June 4, 2016 at 1:54 pm

    Hi all, I have been a butcher for the past 18 years and I am qualified. Butchers in South Africa get paid the worst.

    Reply
  7. larry says

    April 6, 2016 at 10:45 am

    this is a job where your employee expects a lot out a tradesman in return for a wage that you can not live on forget it it sucks

    Reply
  8. ross hodgkinson says

    December 24, 2015 at 7:33 pm

    if you are a hard worker that doesn’t mind long hours, and can make do with what you’ve got, then id highly recommend it;)

    Reply
  9. ross hodgkinson says

    December 24, 2015 at 7:28 pm

    its not all about being a millionare you can pretty much live off that if you’re fully qualified, im only 18 from south Africa and I’m earning just over 2000k per month as a blockman, it also depends on what type of person you are, if you are a hard worker that doesn’t mind long hours and you can make do with what you’ve got, then i’d highly recommend it

    Reply
  10. shayden says

    April 17, 2015 at 6:47 pm

    I enjoy my career very much. It takes a certain person to do what we do. The pay may not be great but still we are hard working and its a career path where you can work anywhere in the world.

    Give it a shot.

    Reply
  11. Timmy .w says

    November 16, 2014 at 4:44 am

    This trade is now a disgrace ! You’ll earn more money mowing lawns or cleaning floors at Safeway.
    In the last 25 years the wage has gone from $12 an hour to $19.50 an hour with the Safeway union trying to reduce it . Shop butchers are on less than supermarket butchers even though they have twice the skills and work up to 20 hours a week more with no RDO’S , perks or allowances.
    stay away from this trade it’s as dead as the animals you work with.!!!!!!!

    Reply
  12. mat says

    September 22, 2014 at 10:24 am

    For the last 15 years I haven’t earned under 90k and have earned up to 130k managing retail shops working 53 hours a week

    Reply
  13. Graham says

    June 18, 2014 at 2:41 am

    This trade is a very skilful one, but the money is very low. A fully qualified trades mans is only on $21 per hour. I am now a teacher, went to uni for 4 years and now am on $55 ph, the butchery trade is 4 year trade, 3 years at tafe and you come out of it on $21 PH, it’s a joke.

    Don’t do this trade

    Reply
  14. Aaron says

    November 13, 2013 at 4:29 am

    Fully qualified butcher trades person is $19.70 per hour. Do something else with your life. This trade is under valued and completely Under payed. Total rip off and waste of your time

    Reply

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