Take a New Direction with MSC's Meat Cutting Program

Looking for a new direction with your career? Check out the Maricopa Skill Center Meat Cutting program!  

Students can earn a certificate as an Apprentice Meat Cutter. The school has an open to the community Butcher Shop & Deli, which students are trained to work in.

Program details: 

Students are in class five hours a day Monday-Friday. It is approximately an eight month long course which costs approximately $4,412.00. Students must be 17.5-years-old to enroll and 18-years-old to work in the industry.

What the students learn:

Students learn how to process meat, pork and poultry while in the class and students are typically cutting their second day of class.

Students learn how to safely use and maintain hand tools and power equipment utilized in the meat cutting industry. Also, students learn how to identify, cut wrap, weigh and display all retail cuts for a meat case.

MSC’s Butcher Shop & Deli on campus provides students with an opportunity to gain hands on experience.

Butcher Shop & Deli:

The Butcher Shop & Deli is open to the community. The Shop is open during business hours Monday-Friday. Students fill the meat counter on Mondays.

The Butcher Shop will also process game. Students get hands on experience learning about processing game. No game is sold in the shop.

For more information, call 602-238-4374.

After graduation:

The students can look forward to careers as a retail meat cutter, retail meat wrapper, wholesale meat cutter or a meat and deli counterperson. Salaries range from $11.96 to $21.39.

Next program start dates: 

May 5^th (Must be enrolled and have taken assessment by March 24^th)

June 2^nd (Must be enrolled and have taken assessment by April 21^st)

Other Certificate Option:

MSC is also home to a Meat Department Helper certificate. The certificate will allow students to assist meat cutters by preparing the meats to be cut; trimming and packaging cuts for retail; stocking, rotating and maintaining meat cases.

Students must be 17.5-years-old to enroll and 18-years-old to work in the industry. The certificate takes about 4 and half months to complete with an estimated cost of $2,548.00.

Find out more! Call 602.238.4350. Visit the website. 

Public tours are available 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.