BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Butchers and Meat Cutters in California

$46,820 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$22.51 per hour

▲ 10.5% above U.S. average11th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$46,820per year
Median$44,290per year
Hourly$22.51per hour
10th – 90th percentile$35,470 – $61,010per year

Butchers and Meat Cutters Pay Range in California

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$35,470
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$37,160
  • 50th Percentile — Median$44,290
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$57,140
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$61,010

Half of Butchers and Meat Cutters in California earn more than $44,290. The top 10% make $61,010 or more, while entry-level workers start around $35,470.

Butchers and Meat Cutters in California: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • California ranks 11th of 51 states for Butchers and Meat Cutters pay, at $46,820 per year (10.5% above the U.S. average of $42,380).
  • 18,700 people work as Butchers and Meat Cutters in California — 13.7% of all U.S. Butchers and Meat Cutters jobs.
  • Location quotient 1.17: Butchers and Meat Cutters jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,470; the top 10% earn over $61,010.
  • Hourly equivalent: $22.51 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is Washington at $52,570.
  • Among manufacturing jobs in California, First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers pays the most ($82,000).

Butchers and Meat Cutters Job Market in California

Key factors affecting compensation

California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Butchers and Meat Cutters here earn $46,820 on average, placing the state 11th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $46,820 is roughly equivalent to $32,972 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New York ($49,210), New Hampshire ($48,100), Delaware ($47,830) are the closest alternatives for Butchers and Meat Cutters weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in California?

The average Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in California is $46,820 per year (median $44,290), which is 10.5% above the national average of $42,380.

How does California rank for Butchers and Meat Cutters pay?

California ranks 11th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Washington ($52,570/yr).

How much do entry-level Butchers and Meat Cutters make in California?

The lowest-paid 10% of Butchers and Meat Cutters in California earn about $35,470 per year and the 25th percentile is $37,160.

How much do Butchers and Meat Cutters make per hour in California?

About $22.51 per hour, based on the $46,820 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Butchers and Meat Cutters work in California?

BLS counts 18,700 Butchers and Meat Cutters jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).

Explore more salary data