Butcher and Meat Cutter Salary in San Francisco, CA
Butchers and Meat Cutters in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $46,490 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,081 take-home, or $3,173 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median butcher and meat cutter salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,399
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,882
- Medicare (1.45%)$674
- California income tax$849
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$604
- Take-home pay$38,081
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Butcher and Meat Cutter pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,510 | $18.51 | $32,092 | $2,674 |
| 25th percentile | $42,680 | $20.52 | $35,222 | $2,935 |
| Median (50th) | $46,490 | $22.35 | $38,081 | $3,173 |
| 75th percentile | $58,920 | $28.33 | $47,172 | $3,931 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,110 | $29.38 | $48,771 | $4,064 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,490 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median butcher and meat cutter's $38,081 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,939 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of butcher and meat cutter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for butchers and meat cutters, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 8 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $38,120 | $32,809 | $33,265 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $46,490 | $38,081 | $32,939 |
| 3 | Atlanta, GA | $38,910 | $32,048 | $32,029 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $38,040 | $32,745 | $31,764 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $40,410 | $32,794 | $31,656 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $42,400 | $35,012 | $30,830 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $42,470 | $34,608 | $30,746 |
| 8 | Miami, FL | $39,140 | $33,629 | $29,459 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 8 metros →
About the job: butchers and meat cutters
Cut, trim, or prepare consumer-sized portions of meat for use or sale in retail establishments.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.4% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Butcher and Meat Cutter salaries elsewhere in California
- Los Angeles, CA — $42,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a butcher and meat cutter make in San Francisco, CA?
The median butcher and meat cutter salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $46,490 a year, or about $22.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,680 and $58,920.
What is a butcher and meat cutter’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $46,490 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $38,081 a year ($3,173 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,453 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a butcher and meat cutter?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $40,140. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,939 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a butcher and meat cutter afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 83% of a median butcher and meat cutter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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