📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release
Butchers and Meat Cutters Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · Medium Demand
Average
$44,280
per year
Median
$41,280
per year
Hourly
$21.29
per hour
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$30,980
25th Percentile — Junior$37,780
50th Percentile — Median$41,280
75th Percentile — Senior$53,080
90th Percentile — Top Earners$58,218
💡 The top 10% of Butchers and Meat Cutterss earn $58,218 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $30,980, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$39.1k
2021
$40.1k
2022
$41.1k
2023
$42.1k
2024
$43.2k
2025
$44.3k
2026
📈 Butchers and Meat Cutters salaries have grown 2.5% year-over-year. Since 2020, the average salary has increased by approximately $5,143.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $68,634 | +55.0% | Medium |
| District of Columbia | $67,306 | +52.0% | Medium |
| California | $62,878 | +42.0% | Medium |
| New York | $61,106 | +38.0% | Medium |
| Alaska | $58,450 | +32.0% | Medium |
| Massachusetts | $57,564 | +30.0% | Medium |
| New Jersey | $56,678 | +28.0% | Medium |
| Washington | $55,350 | +25.0% | Medium |
| Connecticut | $54,022 | +22.0% | Medium |
| Maryland | $50,922 | +15.0% | Medium |
| Rhode Island | $50,922 | +15.0% | Medium |
| New Hampshire | $50,479 | +14.0% | Medium |
| Oregon | $49,594 | +12.0% | Medium |
| Colorado | $48,708 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Virginia | $48,708 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Vermont | $47,822 | +8.0% | Medium |
| Delaware | $46,494 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Illinois | $46,494 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Maine | $45,166 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Nevada | $45,166 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Minnesota | $44,280 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Utah | $44,280 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Arizona | $43,837 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Pennsylvania | $43,837 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Florida | $43,394 | -2.0% | Medium |
| Montana | $42,066 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Texas | $42,066 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Georgia | $41,180 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Idaho | $41,180 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Wyoming | $41,180 | -7.0% | Medium |
| North Dakota | $40,738 | -8.0% | Medium |
| Wisconsin | $40,738 | -8.0% | Medium |
| North Carolina | $40,295 | -9.0% | Medium |
| Michigan | $39,852 | -10.0% | Medium |
| Louisiana | $38,966 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Nebraska | $38,966 | -12.0% | Medium |
| New Mexico | $38,966 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Ohio | $38,966 | -12.0% | Medium |
| South Carolina | $38,966 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Tennessee | $38,966 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Alabama | $38,524 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Missouri | $38,524 | -13.0% | Medium |
| South Dakota | $38,524 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Iowa | $38,081 | -14.0% | Medium |
| Indiana | $37,638 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Kansas | $37,638 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Oklahoma | $37,195 | -16.0% | Medium |
| Arkansas | $36,752 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Kentucky | $36,752 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Mississippi | $35,424 | -20.0% | Medium |
| West Virginia | $34,538 | -22.0% | Medium |
What Factors Affect Butchers and Meat Cutters Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
A Butchers and Meat Cutters's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Butchers and Meat Cutterss typically earn $30,980–$37,780 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $53,080–$58,218 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Butchers and Meat Cutters role currently has medium demand in the job market with a 2.5% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Manufacturing sector.
🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
-
What is the average salary for a Butchers and Meat Cutters?The average salary for a Butchers and Meat Cutters in the United States is $44,280 per year, with a median of $41,280.
-
What is the starting salary for a Butchers and Meat Cutters?Entry-level Butchers and Meat Cutterss typically earn between $30,980 and $37,780 per year depending on location and employer.
-
What state pays Butchers and Meat Cutterss the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Butchers and Meat Cutterss the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
-
How much does a Butchers and Meat Cutters make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $44,280, a Butchers and Meat Cutters earns approximately $21.29 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
-
Is Butchers and Meat Cutters a good career in 2026?Yes — the Butchers and Meat Cutters role has medium demand with 2.5% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.
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