My father used to be a butcher... imagine what life was like trying to explain to people that my father slaughters animals for a living!
That is different, but a friends husbands family had a butcher shop also growing up, 
Oh cool! My dad was actually employed by a couple of supermarkets, grocery stores and fish markets!
I think his parents moved and went to work in grocery store meat departments also. They make pretty good money I hear.
I am sure they do! It is a really traditional line of work, So i would imagine they get compensated well
At least in the stores you don't have to you know, murder them.
Well butchers formed guilds in England as far back as 1272.