Butchers and Meat Cutters Salary in United States

Butchers and Meat Cutterss in United States have a median annual salary of $40,140, which works out to about $19.30 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $35,510 to $48,050, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

51-3021 · Butchers and Meat Cutters

Butchers and Meat Cutters pay in United States at a glance

Median annual salary

$40,140

Median hourly wage

$19.30/hr

Average annual salary

$42,380

Average hourly wage

$20.37/hr

25th percentile

$35,510

75th percentile

$48,050

10th percentile

$29,460

90th percentile

$58,110

People employed

136,430

Salary distribution

Reported wage points from the lowest to the highest paid butchers and meat cutters roles in United States.

10th percentile
$29,460
25th percentile
$35,510
Median percentile
$40,140
75th percentile
$48,050
90th percentile
$58,110

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How much does a butchers and meat cutters make in United States?

Half of butchers and meat cutters roles in United States report earning more than $40,140 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $42,380 is pulled up or down by the highest and lowest earners, which is why the median is usually the better benchmark.

Salary range

A quarter of reported salaries fall below $35,510 and a quarter are above $48,050, so most butchers and meat cutters pay sits between those two figures. These percentiles describe how pay is spread across all reported roles — they are not a direct measure of years of experience.

What can affect butchers and meat cutters pay?

  • Years of experience and level of responsibility
  • Employer type and size
  • Specialization within the occupation
  • Certifications and licensing
  • Industry
  • Hours worked, shift patterns and overtime
  • The local labor market where the job is based

Butchers and Meat Cutters pay in other states

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Methodology · Data sources

Salary figures are benchmarks and can vary by employer, experience, specialization, hours worked and other factors.