How much does a meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer make?
The median meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer in the United States earns $38,300 per year, about $18.41 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-3022.
Meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer salary range
Pay for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $29,980 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $48,150. The average (mean) wage of $39,280 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 | $29,980 | $14.42 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $35,350 | $17.00 | |
| Median (50th) | $38,300 | $18.41 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $44,170 | $21.24 | |
| 90th percentile | $48,150 | $23.15 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers (SOC 51-3022), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers earn the most in Colorado at $50,390 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $27,850. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $50,390 | 2,470 |
| Arizona | $48,550 | 620 |
| Kansas | $48,080 | 5,000 |
| Nebraska | $47,580 | 8,340 |
| New Hampshire | $47,260 | N/A |
| North Dakota | $47,250 | 390 |
| Michigan | $44,430 | 920 |
| South Dakota | $44,290 | 2,080 |
| Utah | $44,150 | 1,080 |
| Minnesota | $43,400 | 3,790 |
| Wisconsin | $43,300 | 2,040 |
| Iowa | $43,190 | 3,970 |
| Washington | $43,010 | 3,630 |
| Indiana | $42,450 | 2,640 |
| Missouri | $41,890 | 2,880 |
| Illinois | $40,690 | 4,040 |
| Hawaii | $40,260 | 800 |
| Vermont | $40,110 | 40 |
| Georgia | $39,330 | 11,480 |
| Idaho | $39,200 | 280 |
| Maine | $39,170 | 660 |
| North Carolina | $39,170 | 9,750 |
| Kentucky | $39,150 | 1,450 |
| Arkansas | $37,980 | 9,030 |
| Nevada | $37,920 | 360 |
| Mississippi | $37,890 | 6,470 |
| Rhode Island | $37,740 | 320 |
| Tennessee | $37,590 | 2,970 |
| Montana | $37,440 | 60 |
| New York | $37,330 | 2,420 |
| Alaska | $37,180 | 970 |
| Wyoming | $37,040 | 70 |
| Ohio | $37,020 | 3,540 |
| West Virginia | $36,870 | 220 |
| California | $36,570 | 9,270 |
| Massachusetts | $36,570 | 2,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,480 | 1,600 |
| Oklahoma | $36,300 | 1,530 |
| Virginia | $36,170 | 2,740 |
| Oregon | $36,060 | 910 |
| Texas | $35,890 | 8,590 |
| Delaware | $35,500 | 5,430 |
| New Jersey | $34,930 | N/A |
| South Carolina | $34,790 | 2,750 |
| Connecticut | $34,780 | N/A |
| Maryland | $32,950 | 680 |
| New Mexico | $31,240 | 240 |
| Florida | $31,160 | 2,310 |
| Alabama | $31,080 | 9,140 |
| Louisiana | $27,850 | 1,690 |
State median wages for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers (SOC 51-3022), 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 meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
The BLS projects employment of meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 149,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 158,300 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 17,000 openings a year for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers. 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 meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer
The typical entry-level education for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-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 meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer 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 (Colorado, $50,390) and the lowest (Louisiana, $27,850) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 145,700 people work as meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in the United States. At $38,300 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer salary FAQ
How much does a meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer is $18.41. The middle half of meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers earn between $17.00 and $21.24 per hour.
What is the highest meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers earn more than $48,150 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer make a year?
The median annual salary for a meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer is $38,300. The average (mean) wage of $39,280 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 meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer a well paid job?
At $38,300 a year, a meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 145,700 people work as meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in the United States.
Which state pays meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers the most?
Colorado has the highest median salary for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers at $50,390 a year. Arizona ($48,550) and Kansas ($48,080) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer a good career?
Employment of meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers is projected to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 17,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a meat, poultry, and fish cutter and trimmer?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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