Butcher and Meat Cutter Salary
Butchers and Meat Cutters earn a median $40,140 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$40,140
$19.30 per hour
Range
$29,460 – $58,110
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
136,430
across the U.S.
▲3.0%
Pay trend: The median for butchers and meat cutters in the U.S. rose from $38,960 (May 2024) to $40,140 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 0.6%.
What butchers and meat cutters do
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)
- Openings per year
- 15,100
- Self-employed
- 1%
Employment of butchers and meat cutters is projected to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 15,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Butcher and Meat Cutter take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$34,432
per year · effective tax rate 14.2%
$2,869Monthly
$1,435Twice a month
$1,324Every 2 weeks
$16.55Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,637
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,489
- Medicare (1.45%)$582
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$34,432
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,460 | $14.16 | $25,851 |
| 25th percentile | $35,510 | $17.07 | $30,712 |
| Median (50th) | $40,140 | $19.30 | $34,432 |
| 75th percentile | $48,050 | $23.10 | $40,788 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,110 | $27.94 | $48,871 |
Best cities for butchers and meat cutters (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $38,120 | $32,809 | $33,265 | 2,700 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $46,490 | $38,081 | $32,939 | 2,720 |
| 3 | Atlanta, GA | $38,910 | $32,048 | $32,029 | 2,570 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $38,040 | $32,745 | $31,764 | 3,090 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $40,410 | $32,794 | $31,656 | 5,910 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $42,400 | $35,012 | $30,830 | 6,510 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $42,470 | $34,608 | $30,746 | 6,220 |
| 8 | Miami, FL | $39,140 | $33,629 | $29,459 | 3,420 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $46,490
- New York, NY — $42,470
- Los Angeles, CA — $42,400
- Chicago, IL — $40,410
- Miami, FL — $39,140
- Atlanta, GA — $38,910
- Houston, TX — $38,120
- Dallas, TX — $38,040
Butcher and Meat Cutter salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $51,670 | +7.4% | $43,697 | $37,560 – $63,440 | 2,660 |
| Alaska | $50,450 | +4.6% | $42,717 | $35,810 – $71,460 | 230 |
| Hawaii | $50,080 | −0.3% | $40,129 | $35,020 – $69,530 | 500 |
| Oregon | $49,360 | +4.4% | $38,351 | $37,220 – $60,150 | 1,540 |
| District of Columbia | $48,760 | +1.8% | $39,599 | $38,140 – $63,360 | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $48,430 | +0.3% | $38,892 | $38,370 – $62,120 | 1,480 |
| New Hampshire | $47,740 | +1.7% | $40,539 | $38,690 – $57,510 | 530 |
| Colorado | $47,490 | +3.8% | $38,957 | $33,970 – $59,210 | 2,200 |
| New York | $47,080 | +1.3% | $38,063 | $35,980 – $66,580 | 4,540 |
| Delaware | $47,040 | −0.3% | $38,043 | $35,870 – $58,290 | 250 |
| Wisconsin | $45,980 | +11.8% | $37,883 | $33,170 – $56,210 | 3,510 |
| Arizona | $45,780 | +16.9% | $38,028 | $35,010 – $54,990 | 2,130 |
| Vermont | $45,580 | +11.3% | $37,710 | $35,160 – $59,070 | 370 |
| Rhode Island | $45,210 | +3.2% | $37,428 | $34,690 – $59,900 | 260 |
| Wyoming | $44,820 | +2.9% | $38,193 | $36,630 – $59,450 | 210 |
| Connecticut | $44,570 | +12.4% | $36,911 | $36,090 – $60,830 | 1,210 |
| California | $44,290 | −0.0% | $36,430 | $35,470 – $61,010 | 18,700 |
| Maryland | $44,130 | +7.5% | $35,906 | $31,200 – $59,030 | 1,500 |
| Minnesota | $43,930 | −1.1% | $35,946 | $34,790 – $59,540 | 1,590 |
| Utah | $43,440 | +4.2% | $36,095 | $32,060 – $53,470 | 1,500 |
| Florida | $42,790 | +8.7% | $36,562 | $29,640 – $49,160 | 10,590 |
| Indiana | $42,440 | +13.4% | $35,058 | $31,510 – $56,770 | 1,850 |
| Montana | $41,600 | +2.0% | $34,407 | $29,760 – $56,720 | 740 |
| Nevada | $40,290 | +7.4% | $34,553 | $29,070 – $54,190 | 1,560 |
| North Dakota | $40,080 | +2.1% | $34,384 | $22,390 – $57,160 | 470 |
| Tennessee | $39,960 | +6.2% | $34,288 | $26,520 – $47,710 | 2,650 |
| South Carolina | $39,790 | +0.5% | $32,921 | $31,150 – $47,980 | 2,380 |
| Virginia | $39,770 | +1.5% | $32,663 | $31,290 – $55,810 | 2,630 |
| Michigan | $39,350 | +3.2% | $32,376 | $29,900 – $50,740 | 4,230 |
| Illinois | $39,240 | +1.8% | $31,912 | $33,630 – $52,220 | 7,710 |
| Georgia | $38,540 | +4.0% | $31,769 | $28,790 – $48,190 | 4,420 |
| New Jersey | $38,540 | −0.8% | $32,515 | $32,220 – $65,940 | 4,610 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,340 | +2.3% | $31,809 | $29,000 – $58,130 | 3,540 |
| Maine | $38,250 | −15.9% | $31,487 | $34,780 – $57,670 | 830 |
| North Carolina | $38,240 | +3.3% | $31,889 | $28,510 – $50,080 | 3,120 |
| Idaho | $38,030 | −1.2% | $31,830 | $29,570 – $50,370 | 1,480 |
| Missouri | $37,860 | +3.8% | $31,758 | $29,280 – $55,320 | 2,160 |
| Iowa | $37,750 | +3.1% | $31,729 | $30,200 – $46,510 | 4,480 |
| Nebraska | $37,630 | +2.6% | $31,583 | $28,600 – $49,840 | 1,380 |
| Ohio | $37,630 | +1.8% | $32,163 | $26,940 – $50,090 | 5,640 |
| Texas | $37,400 | +0.9% | $32,231 | $23,760 – $55,160 | 11,260 |
| Kansas | $37,320 | +4.2% | $30,884 | $28,330 – $52,800 | 1,200 |
| South Dakota | $37,310 | +4.0% | $32,159 | $33,830 – $56,060 | 520 |
| Louisiana | $36,790 | +11.7% | $31,023 | $25,120 – $48,240 | 2,240 |
| New Mexico | $36,640 | +0.6% | $31,012 | $29,170 – $49,930 | 810 |
| Alabama | $36,500 | +4.7% | $29,948 | $26,430 – $47,960 | 2,350 |
| Kentucky | $35,430 | +13.0% | $29,526 | $22,890 – $47,690 | 1,670 |
| Oklahoma | $35,070 | +3.4% | $29,326 | $26,180 – $46,340 | 1,810 |
| Arkansas | $34,380 | −3.6% | $28,676 | $24,920 – $45,100 | 1,290 |
| West Virginia | $33,570 | +16.0% | $28,269 | $23,240 – $44,550 | 600 |
| Mississippi | $29,700 | +3.9% | $25,588 | $22,060 – $46,340 | 1,160 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slaughterer and Meat Packer | $40,130 | No formal educational credential | +2.0% |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $38,300 | No formal educational credential | +5.7% |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $39,680 | No formal educational credential | +5.5% |
| Food Cooking Machine Operator and Tender | $41,590 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.3% |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,290 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.5% |
| Baker | $37,160 | No formal educational credential | +5.5% |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,810 | No formal educational credential | +0.4% |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,110 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.8% |
| Photographic Process Worker and Processing Machine Operator | $40,610 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.6% |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $39,530 | High school diploma or equivalent | -13.7% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a butcher and meat cutter make?
The national median salary for butchers and meat cutters is $40,140 a year ($19.30 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $29,460 and the top 10% earn over $58,110. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays butchers and meat cutters the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $51,670. After taxes and local prices, Houston, TX offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many butchers and meat cutters are there in the U.S.?
About 136,430 people work as butchers and meat cutters nationwide.