ANZSCO 311312

Meat Inspector

STSOLCSOLSkill level 2Assessed by VETASSESSShortage

General information, not immigration advice. Data as at 2026-10-22.

About this occupation

ANZSCO 2022

Inspects animal carcasses, internal organs and meat processing facilities for disease to ensure compliance with government and industry standards with respect to quality and health.

Skill level 2

Unit group 3113

Primary Products Assurance and Inspection Officers

Primary Products Assurance and Inspection Officers inspect animals, plants and agricultural produce and facilities to ensure compliance with government and industry standards with respect to quality, health and licensing.

Indicative skill level

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below.

In Australia

AQF Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma (ANZSCO Skill Level 2)

In New Zealand

NZQF Diploma (ANZSCO Skill Level 2)

At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.

Tasks include

Inspecting animals, plants and agricultural produce to identify product quality issues, and providing advice to producers
Developing, implementing, auditing and monitoring quality procedures at farms and food handling and processing facilities to ensure compliance with required standards
Testing samples of produce for quality, size and purity ensuring that required standards of hygiene are observed at storage, processing and packing facilities and in transport vehicles
Advising primary producers on economic aspects of disease eradication and informing producers and the general public of the health implications of diseases and impurities
Advising on the identification of pests and diseases and on regulations pertaining to grading, packing and loading of products
Examining imported plants and animals, and products, such as dairy and meat products, timber, seeds and dried fruits and the conveyances that transport them for biosecurity risks, and issuing directions to control biosecurity risks

Show all 9 tasks

Patrolling and investigating waterways for unlawful fishing activities and the removal of protected marine life
Educating, advising and providing information on a wide range of topics relating to fish and their protection
May initiate or assist in legal action to enforce regulations

Occupations in this unit group

311311 Fisheries Officer
311312 Meat InspectorThis occupation
311313 Biosecurity Officer
311314 Primary Products Quality Assurance Officer
311399 Primary Products Assurance and Inspection Officers nec

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO 2022. CC BY 4.0.

ANZSCO 2022 (the edition the CSOL uses for the 482 and 186 visas)

Title in this edition: Meat Inspector, skill level 2

Major group: 3 Technicians and Trades Workers
Sub-major group: 31 Engineering, ICT and Science Technicians
Minor group: 311 Agricultural, Medical and Science Technicians
Unit group: 3113 Primary Products Assurance and Inspection Officers

The title and groups are the same in ANZSCO 2013 v1.2 and ANZSCO 2022.

Occupation Shortage List (2026)

National rating: Shortage
Confidence: Clear
Rated on: ANZSCO 2022

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026 Occupation Shortage List - 6 digit ANZSCO and OSCA, released 21 October 2026. CC BY 4.0.

Possible visa options

Visas that Meat Inspector may be eligible for through its skilled list placement. Being on a list is one requirement; each visa has others (points, age, English, nomination or sponsorship).

Visa	Stay	MLTSSL	STSOL	ROL	CSOL	Instrument
Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)	Permanent	Not on MLTSSL	On STSOL	ROL not used for this visa	CSOL not used for this visa	LIN 19/051, s 7(1) item 3
Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) State or Territory nominated	—	Not on MLTSSL	On STSOL	Not on ROL	CSOL not used for this visa	LIN 19/051, s 7(1) item 4
Training visa (subclass 407)	Temporary (Up to 2 years)	Not on MLTSSL	On STSOL	Not on ROL	CSOL not used for this visa	LIN 19/050, s 6
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494) - Employer sponsored stream	Temporary (5 years)	Not on MLTSSL	STSOL not used for this visa	On ROL	CSOL not used for this visa	LIN 19/219, s 5(1)
Skills in Demand (subclass 482) - Core Skills stream	Temporary (Up to 4 years)	MLTSSL not used for this visa	STSOL not used for this visa	ROL not used for this visa	On CSOL	LIN 24/089, s 6(3)
Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) - Direct Entry Pathway	Permanent	MLTSSL not used for this visa	STSOL not used for this visa	ROL not used for this visa	On CSOL	LIN 24/093, s 7(1)

✓ the occupation is on a list this visa uses · ✗ this visa uses the list but the occupation is not on it · — the visa does not use this list. Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, visa pages, CC BY 3.0 AU.

Average salary, May 2025

Unit group 3113 Primary products assurance and inspection officers (ANZSCO 2022). all employees, Average weekly total cash earnings.

	Average weekly earnings	Average age
All employees	$1,633.10	37.3
Males	$2,156.40	42.0
Females	$1,322.10	34.5

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia, May 2025: data cube 63060DO011_202505 (Table 1), released 23 January 2026. CC BY 4.0.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO (CC BY 4.0). Source: Department of Home Affairs, Skilled occupation list (CC BY 4.0). Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026 Occupation Shortage List. © Commonwealth of Australia, CC BY 4.0. Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia, May 2025. © Commonwealth of Australia, CC BY 4.0. Search another occupation