Butcher or Smallgoods Maker Visa Pathway to Australia: Complete 2026 Guide
Updated: 29 October 2026
Australia classifies Butcher or Smallgoods Maker under ANZSCO 351211 (Skill Level 3). Trades Recognition Australia conducts the skills assessment, through the Migration Skills Assessment or the Offshore Skills Assessment Program for overseas-trained applicants, or the Job Ready Program for international graduates of an Australian VET course who are working in Australia. The occupation sits on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List and the Core Skills Occupation List, opening subclasses 190, 491, 494, 482 and 186. The 189 is not available. Typical 2026 salaries range AUD $65,000-$90,000 according to SEEK Salary Hub.
Quick Facts: Butcher or Smallgoods Maker Migration Pathway
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| ANZSCO Code | 351211 (Butcher or Smallgoods Maker) |
| Skill Level | 3 (AQF Certificate III or IV with at least two years on-the-job training) |
| Skills Assessment | TRA (Trades Recognition Australia): MSA or OSAP if you trained overseas; Job Ready Program for Australian VET graduates working in Australia |
| Occupation List | STSOL and CSOL |
| Visas Home Affairs lists | 186, 190, 407, 482, 489, 491 and 494 |
| Demand Level | High — meat processing and retail butchery face persistent shortage, especially in regional Australia |
| Salary Range | AUD $65,000-$90,000 (SEEK Salary Hub, 2026) |
| Typical Path | 482 employer sponsorship through regional abattoirs or supermarket chains, transitioning to 186 |
| Key Challenge | Most overseas qualifications are practical and not formally documented to AQF III standard, forcing a workplace assessment |
| Official figures checked | 28 October 2026 (Home Affairs occupation list, visa fees and processing times) |
Role Context: Butchers in Australia
Australia produces and exports beef, lamb and pork at scale. The supply chain runs from regional abattoirs (JBS Australia, Teys, Thomas Foods, Kilcoy, Northern Cooperative Meat Company) through wholesale to retail butchers and supermarket meat departments. Coles and Woolworths run large in-store butcher operations; ALDI uses a more centralised model. Independent butcher shops sit alongside specialist smallgoods makers producing salamis, cured meats and sausages.
Demand is heavily regional. Abattoirs in regional Queensland, NSW and Victoria are persistent sponsors of 482 butchers because the domestic labour pool is small and turnover is high. In-store butchers in metro supermarkets are easier to fill domestically, so regional sponsorship dominates the migrant pathway. Jobs and Skills Australia continues to flag meat processing trades as in shortage nationally, with the most acute pressure in regional meat-processing towns.
The work is physically demanding, cold (most operations run at 4-10°C), and award-driven, with strong penalty rates for weekend and shift work.
ANZSCO Code 351211: Butcher or Smallgoods Maker
The code covers two related trades grouped together in ANZSCO:
- Butcher — selects, cuts, trims and prepares meat for sale or further processing
- Smallgoods Maker — produces sausages, cured meats, salami, ham, bacon and similar processed products
Official task list covers slaughtering and dressing animals, boning and trimming carcasses, preparing cuts for retail or wholesale, curing and smoking meats, operating meat-processing equipment, and supervising hygiene and food-safety standards.
Migrants whose primary work is the slaughter floor at an abattoir are sometimes classified under ANZSCO 831211 (Slaughterer) — a Skill Level 4 code that is generally not on the skilled migration lists. If your role is genuinely butcher-level (cutting, trimming, preparing for retail or processing), 351211 is correct. If your role is purely killing-floor work, 351211 will likely fail.
Skills Assessment: Trades Recognition Australia
TRA is the sole assessing authority for ANZSCO 351211.
Job Ready Program (JRP) — for Australian VET graduates
The Job Ready Program is for international graduates of an Australian VET course who are working in Australia. It is not an offshore route. The pathway runs across four stages: the Provisional Skills Assessment, then the three Job Ready Program steps.
- Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA) — checks that your Australian qualification is at the required level for the occupation. It costs AUD130 in total.
- Job Ready Employment (JRE) — 12 months of paid employment in Australia in the nominated occupation.
- Job Ready Workplace Assessment (JRWA) — practical assessment by a TRA-approved Registered Training Organisation at the workplace.
- Job Ready Final Assessment (JRFA) — TRA's final determination.
TRA lists the Job Ready Program cost as AUD3,410 in total (AUD490 for Job Ready Employment, AUD2,845 for the Job Ready Workplace Assessment and AUD75 for the Job Ready Final Assessment), and more if you need more than one Workplace Assessment. The Job Ready Program takes at least 12 months, because it needs 12 months of full-time (or equivalent) work with a TRA-approved employer, unless you have eligible prior employment. Common rejection reasons: the workplace assessor finds gaps in carcass-breaking technique or food-safety procedures; documentary evidence of your Australian employment is informal (no payslips, only employer statements).
Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) — for overseas-trained applicants
For overseas-trained applicants whose passport and occupation do not require OSAP, the MSA reviews qualifications and at least three years of relevant work experience post-qualification. It is open to 351211 because the occupation is on the STSOL. It is not for 482 applicants, or for passports and occupations that must use OSAP. The MSA costs AUD795 in total; TRA processes it typically within 120 days of submission. Common rejection reasons: overseas qualifications below AQF Certificate III equivalence; employment letters that do not describe duties matching ANZSCO 351211.
Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP)
A pre-arrival assessment carried out by a TRA-approved RTO, with a technical interview and, if required, a practical assessment. Useful where home-country qualifications are informal but skill level is genuinely AQF III. TRA lists the OSAP cost as up to AUD5,320 for Pathway 1 and AUD2,020 for Pathway 2. Use TRA's Pathfinder to confirm which program applies to your passport and occupation.
See skills assessment bodies complete list for cross-occupation context on TRA processes.
Visa Pathways for Butchers and Smallgoods Makers
Home Affairs lists Butcher or Smallgoods Maker on the STSOL and CSOL, but not the MLTSSL. The 189 subclass is therefore not available. Home Affairs lists it for the 482, 491, 190, 186 and 494.
Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand Visa (dominant entry route)
Employer-sponsored temporary work visa. 351211 qualifies for the Core Skills stream.
- Visa fee: AUD4,015 for the main applicant
- Salary threshold: Core Skills Income Threshold AUD79,423 (from 1 July 2026). The Specialist Skills stream is not open to this occupation, because Home Affairs excludes ANZSCO Major Groups 3, 7 and 8.
- Duration: Up to 4 years
- Sponsors: Major abattoir groups (JBS, Teys, Thomas Foods, Kilcoy) regularly sponsor offshore butchers. Supermarket meat departments and independent regional butchers also sponsor.
The 482 with a regional abattoir is the single most common entry point for offshore butchers. Several abattoirs have accredited sponsor status, which speeds nomination approval.
Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional Visa
State or family-sponsored regional provisional visa, valid five years. Path to permanent residency via subclass 191 after three years of compliant regional residence.
- Visa fee: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
- Points boost: +15 for regional nomination
- Best for: butchers with a job offer in designated regional Australia
- Quirk: South Australia and Tasmania have been the most active nominators of 351211 in recent rounds. Onshore candidates with current regional employment are prioritised.
Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa
Permanent residency through state nomination.
- Visa fee: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
- Points boost: +5 for state nomination
- Reality: 190 invitations for Butcher are much less common than 491 invitations. Most state programs route the occupation through regional 491.
Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme
Permanent residency through employer sponsorship. The end-state for most butcher migrants.
- Visa fee: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
- Streams: Temporary Residence Transition (after 2 years on 482) or Direct Entry
- Processing: Direct Entry stream: 50% of applications processed within 21 months and 90% within 25 months; Temporary Residence Transition stream: 50% of applications processed within 21 months and 90% within 25 months
Home Affairs also lists Butcher or Smallgoods Maker for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa, an employer-sponsored regional visa (AUD6,140 for the main applicant). It suits butchers with a regional employer willing to sponsor.
State Nomination for Butchers and Smallgoods Makers
Only states currently nominating ANZSCO 351211 in 2026 are listed.
South Australia
South Australia has been the most consistent nominator of butchers, through both 491 regional and occasionally 190. Migration SA prioritises applicants with a regional South Australian job offer (Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln, Naracoorte and the Riverland are sponsor hotspots). The South Australian dairy and meat-processing belt is a steady source of openings.
Tasmania
Tasmania nominates butchers and smallgoods makers under the 491 stream where the applicant is already living and working in Tasmania. Six months of recent Tasmanian employment in the occupation is typically required before nomination is considered.
Regional Victoria and Regional NSW
Both states accept ANZSCO 351211 for 491 nomination where the role is in designated regional Australia. Sydney, Melbourne and the inner-metropolitan zones are excluded. Strongest results come from applicants with a confirmed job offer at a regional abattoir or established regional retail butcher.
Northern Territory
NT has nominated butchers under 491 in periods when the regional meat-processing sector has flagged shortage. Smaller program, but worth lodging an EOI if you have flexibility on location.
Salary and Employment Outlook
Typical 2026 Butcher and Smallgoods Maker Salaries
| Role | Typical Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Apprentice Butcher | AUD $50,000-$60,000 |
| Qualified Butcher | AUD $65,000-$85,000 |
| Senior/Head Butcher | AUD $85,000-$100,000 |
| Smallgoods Maker | AUD $70,000-$90,000 |
| Butcher Shop Manager | AUD $85,000-$110,000 |
| Slaughterhouse Floor Supervisor | AUD $90,000-$120,000 |
Source: SEEK Salary Hub, May 2026. SEEK reports the typical advertised butcher range at AUD $75,000-$90,000. PayScale records an hourly rate of AUD $25.95 (annualising lower); ERI SalaryExpert records AUD $55,000 average. The SEEK range tracks advertised roles, which leans toward larger employers and award-plus-penalty packages.
Total package adds 12% superannuation and substantial penalty rates. Abattoir shifts often run 4 am to 1 pm and attract early-start and Saturday loadings, frequently lifting total package 25-35% above base.
Top employer types
- Major abattoirs (JBS Australia, Teys, Thomas Foods, Kilcoy, NCMC)
- Supermarket meat departments (Coles, Woolworths)
- Regional independent butchers
- Specialist smallgoods producers (salami, charcuterie, halal-certified processors)
- Wholesale meat distributors
Geographic distribution
Regional meat-processing towns offer the strongest sponsorship opportunities: Dubbo, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Bordertown, Mount Gambier, Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Townsville. Metro butchery is more competitive and less likely to sponsor.
Tips for a Successful Application
1. Get the ANZSCO code right — 351211, not 831211
If your duties are mainly cutting, trimming and preparing meat for retail or further processing, 351211 fits. If your duties are predominantly slaughter-floor work, you are at risk of being recategorised as Slaughterer (831211), which is not on the skilled migration lists. Document your duties carefully and ensure your employer's letter describes butcher-level work, not killing-floor tasks alone.
2. Lock in a regional sponsor early
Metro butcher roles rarely sponsor. Regional abattoirs, particularly in South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania, do sponsor regularly. Begin contact 12-18 months ahead of your target arrival date.
3. Document overseas experience formally
TRA's most common refusal reason for butchers is informal employment evidence. If your home country does not generate payslips or tax records, work with your overseas employer well in advance to produce signed letters describing duties against the ANZSCO 351211 task list, with photographs of work and any internal training certificates.
4. Budget the full JRP cost upfront
TRA lists the Job Ready Program cost as AUD3,410 in total (AUD490 for Job Ready Employment, AUD2,845 for the Job Ready Workplace Assessment and AUD75 for the Job Ready Final Assessment), and more if you need more than one Workplace Assessment, plus AUD130 in total for the PSA before it, separate from visa fees. The program takes at least 12 months, because it needs 12 months of full-time (or equivalent) work with a TRA-approved employer, unless you have eligible prior employment. Migrants who run short of funds at JRWA stage frequently abandon the process. Plan the budget at the start.
5. Confirm halal certification needs early
A growing share of Australian butchery is halal-certified, particularly for export. Halal qualifications and references are an advantage in sponsor matching, especially for Sydney, Melbourne and export-focused processors.
Step-by-Step Migration Roadmap
- Confirm ANZSCO code 351211 via the ANZSCO code finder
- Check list status — confirm 351211 on the Core Skills Occupation List
- Secure English test result. TRA's MSA does not need an English test, but your visa does, and higher scores earn visa points
- Get the right TRA skills assessment: the Migration Skills Assessment if you trained overseas, or the Provisional Skills Assessment then the Job Ready Program if you are an international graduate of an Australian VET course working in Australia
- Secure an Australian employer — regional abattoir or established regional butcher
- Lodge 482 nomination and visa — sponsor pays nomination fee and SAF levy
- Job Ready Program applicants only: begin Job Ready Employment. 12 months minimum recorded work in nominated occupation
- Complete Workplace Assessment with TRA-approved RTO
- Receive Job Ready Final Assessment outcome from TRA
- Lodge subclass 186 (TRT stream) or 491 regional visa
- Complete health and character checks
- Receive visa grant and continue regional employment (491 applicants must meet 191 income and residence requirements after three years for permanent residency)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Butcher visa pathway viable without a regional move?
In most cases, no. Metro supermarket butchery is generally filled domestically, and state 190 invitations for 351211 are scarce. The realistic pathway is regional employer sponsorship under the 482 or 494, or state nomination for the 491. Migrants who insist on staying in Sydney or Melbourne metro typically find the process stalls at the sponsor-search stage.
How is Butcher (351211) different from Slaughterer (831211) for migration?
Butcher is on the CSOL; Slaughterer is not on any current skilled migration list. The two roles overlap in some abattoirs but are distinct in ANZSCO. Migrants whose duties focus on cutting, trimming, boning and preparing meat for retail or further processing fit 351211. Migrants whose duties are predominantly killing-floor work fit 831211 and have no points-tested pathway.
Can a smallgoods or charcuterie specialist migrate under this code?
Yes. ANZSCO 351211 explicitly covers smallgoods making. Salami, cured meats, sausage and bacon production all fall within the code. TRA assesses against a combined butcher/smallgoods skill standard, so demonstrating competence in basic butchery techniques alongside specialist smallgoods work strengthens the assessment.
What is the realistic total cost to migrate as a butcher?
Main costs: the TRA skills assessment, an English test, the visas, and health and police checks. The MSA costs AUD795 in total. On the onshore route, the PSA costs AUD130 in total and the Job Ready Program costs AUD3,410 in total (AUD490 for Job Ready Employment, AUD2,845 for the Job Ready Workplace Assessment and AUD75 for the Job Ready Final Assessment), and more if you need more than one Workplace Assessment. The subclass 482 visa costs AUD4,015 for the main applicant and the subclass 186 visa AUD6,140 for the main applicant. Each family member pays their own visa charge.
Which state is the strongest single nominator of butchers in 2026?
South Australia has been the most consistent nominator over the past three program years, particularly for regional roles in the Limestone Coast and Riverland regions. Tasmania has been the next strongest. NSW and Victoria nominate sporadically, almost always for designated regional areas rather than metro.
