Most meat cutter jobs do not require any formal education. Apprenticeships and on-the-job training are very common in this career choice. When one is starting out as a meat cutter, one does more of the menial tasks such as meat grinding and cleanup. If they are allowed to work under a master butcher, they can learn the skills needed to succeed in this career. There are some butcher training programs where cutters can further their skills. Many people begin this type of career by working in the large meat processing plants first. Here, they learn the primal cuts and basics of butchering meat. As they become more skilled in meat cutting, they can advance to butcher shops and grocery stores.

It is important that they have the physical strength that it takes to lift large pieces of meat that are often very heavy. Without good physical strength, they will not be able to lift the carcasses and will not be able to handle the physical exertion that is required for the job.

A meat cutter also needs good coordination skills and some math skills that will be needed when they are weighing meat for production and customer service.

Once they begin training under a master butcher, it normally takes about two years before they become skilled enough to be considered a master cutter. Until this time, they will continue to apprentice under another butcher and learn all of the different types of cuts of meat. It is important that they learn all of the parts of the animal and the cuts so that the meat products are not wasted.