How much does a butcher and meat cutter make?
The median butcher and meat cutter in the United States earns $40,140 per year, about $19.30 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all butchers and meat cutters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-3021.
Butcher and meat cutter salary range
Pay for butchers and meat cutters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $29,460 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $58,110. The average (mean) wage of $42,380 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,460 | $14.17 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $35,510 | $17.07 | |
| Median (50th) | $40,140 | $19.30 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $48,050 | $23.10 | |
| 90th percentile | $58,110 | $27.94 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for butchers and meat cutters (SOC 51-3021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Butcher and meat cutter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Butchers and meat cutters earn the most in Washington at $51,670 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $29,700. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $51,670 | 2,660 |
| Alaska | $50,450 | 230 |
| Hawaii | $50,080 | 500 |
| Oregon | $49,360 | 1,540 |
| District of Columbia | $48,760 | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $48,430 | 1,480 |
| New Hampshire | $47,740 | 530 |
| Colorado | $47,490 | 2,200 |
| New York | $47,080 | 4,540 |
| Delaware | $47,040 | 250 |
| Wisconsin | $45,980 | 3,510 |
| Arizona | $45,780 | 2,130 |
| Vermont | $45,580 | 370 |
| Rhode Island | $45,210 | 260 |
| Wyoming | $44,820 | 210 |
| Connecticut | $44,570 | 1,210 |
| California | $44,290 | 18,700 |
| Maryland | $44,130 | 1,500 |
| Minnesota | $43,930 | 1,590 |
| Utah | $43,440 | 1,500 |
| Florida | $42,790 | 10,590 |
| Indiana | $42,440 | 1,850 |
| Montana | $41,600 | 740 |
| Nevada | $40,290 | 1,560 |
| North Dakota | $40,080 | 470 |
| Tennessee | $39,960 | 2,650 |
| South Carolina | $39,790 | 2,380 |
| Virginia | $39,770 | 2,630 |
| Michigan | $39,350 | 4,230 |
| Illinois | $39,240 | 7,710 |
| Georgia | $38,540 | 4,420 |
| New Jersey | $38,540 | 4,610 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,340 | 3,540 |
| Maine | $38,250 | 830 |
| North Carolina | $38,240 | 3,120 |
| Idaho | $38,030 | 1,480 |
| Missouri | $37,860 | 2,160 |
| Iowa | $37,750 | 4,480 |
| Nebraska | $37,630 | 1,380 |
| Ohio | $37,630 | 5,640 |
| Texas | $37,400 | 11,260 |
| Kansas | $37,320 | 1,200 |
| South Dakota | $37,310 | 520 |
| Louisiana | $36,790 | 2,240 |
| New Mexico | $36,640 | 810 |
| Alabama | $36,500 | 2,350 |
| Kentucky | $35,430 | 1,670 |
| Oklahoma | $35,070 | 1,810 |
| Arkansas | $34,380 | 1,290 |
| West Virginia | $33,570 | 600 |
| Mississippi | $29,700 | 1,160 |
State median wages for butchers and meat cutters (SOC 51-3021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for butchers and meat cutters
The BLS projects employment of butchers and meat cutters to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 138,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 141,700 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 15,100 openings a year for butchers and meat cutters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a butcher and meat cutter
The typical entry-level education for butchers and meat cutters is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a butcher and meat cutter earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $51,670) and the lowest (Mississippi, $29,700) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 136,430 people work as butchers and meat cutters in the United States. At $40,140 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Butcher and meat cutter salary FAQ
How much does a butcher and meat cutter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a butcher and meat cutter is $19.30. The middle half of butchers and meat cutters earn between $17.07 and $23.10 per hour.
What is the highest butcher and meat cutter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of butchers and meat cutters earn more than $58,110 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a butcher and meat cutter make a year?
The median annual salary for a butcher and meat cutter is $40,140. The average (mean) wage of $42,380 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a butcher and meat cutter a well paid job?
At $40,140 a year, a butcher and meat cutter earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 136,430 people work as butchers and meat cutters in the United States.
Which state pays butchers and meat cutters the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for butchers and meat cutters at $51,670 a year. Alaska ($50,450) and Hawaii ($50,080) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a butcher and meat cutter a good career?
Employment of butchers and meat cutters is projected to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 15,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a butcher and meat cutter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for butchers and meat cutters as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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