Slaughterer
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Snapshot
Median salary
A$81,500
Full-time annual
People employed
1,800
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
No shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Slaughters livestock and prepares carcasses for further processing by removing internal organs and hides for consumption.
Scope note: Poultry slaughterers are excluded from this occupation. Poultry slaughterers are included in Occupation 831332 Poultry Process Worker.
Read official OSCA descriptionSkills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Receives livestock for slaughter and inspects them for any signs of disease or injury
- Operates stunning equipment to render livestock unconscious before slaughter
- Uses knives and other tools to slaughter livestock according to industry standards and regulations
- Removes internal organs and hides from carcasses, and separates them for further processing
- Cleans and maintains work areas and equipment used in the slaughtering process
- Packs and labels carcasses for transportation to further processing facilities
- Adheres to animal welfare standards and regulations throughout the slaughtering process
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
20%
Female rate
5%
Median age
35
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
-6%
-311 projected jobs
to 2035
-3%
-188 projected jobs
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OSCA skill level 4
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Official VET pathways
Certificate III in Meat Processing (Slaughtering)
Occupation ready
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
17
ACT · May 2026
0
VIC · May 2026
10
NT · May 2026
0
SA · May 2026
3
NSW · May 2026
4
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Slaughterer.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Ipswich
721 estimated employed
- 1
Ipswich
721 employed
QLD
+19.17%
year on year
- 2
Toowoomba
645 employed
QLD
+15.8%
year on year
- 3
Central Queensland
580 employed
QLD
+24.2%
year on year
- 4
Darling Downs - Maranoa
529 employed
QLD
+18.88%
year on year
- 5
Melbourne - West
503 employed
VIC
+5.23%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
2,325
Moved in from another occupation
245
Moved to another occupation
410
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
3
points
- 2
1
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 831232
- Last updated
- Refresh pending
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · OSCA 2024 — Jobs and Skills Australia
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: estimate. A missing CSOL flag is not a finding of visa ineligibility; check the current Home Affairs list.