Butchers and Meat Cutters Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for butchers and meat cutterss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $42,380 ≈ $20/hr
National median salary $40,140
Total employment 136,430 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +1%
Slower than average
Annual openings 16,900 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 143,100 → 144,500 (+1,400)
Typical entry education No formal educational credential
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Washington$52,570
- Alaska$51,900
- Hawaii$50,960
- Oregon$49,610
- District of Columbia$49,360
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Mississippi$32,860
- West Virginia$33,250
- Arkansas$34,860
- Oklahoma$35,070
- Kentucky$35,390
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $52,570 | $51,670 | $25 | +24% | 2,660 |
| 2 | Alaska | $51,900 | $50,450 | $25 | +22.5% | 230 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $50,960 | $50,080 | $25 | +20.2% | 500 |
| 4 | Oregon | $49,610 | $49,360 | $24 | +17.1% | 1,540 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $49,360 | $48,760 | $24 | +16.5% | 150 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $49,210 | $48,430 | $24 | +16.1% | 1,480 |
| 7 | New York | $49,210 | $47,080 | $24 | +16.1% | 4,540 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $48,100 | $47,740 | $23 | +13.5% | 530 |
| 9 | Delaware | $47,830 | $47,040 | $23 | +12.9% | 250 |
| 10 | Colorado | $47,050 | $47,490 | $23 | +11% | 2,200 |
| 11 | California | $46,820 | $44,290 | $23 | +10.5% | 18,700 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $46,380 | $45,210 | $22 | +9.4% | 260 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $45,920 | $44,570 | $22 | +8.4% | 1,210 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $45,610 | $38,540 | $22 | +7.6% | 4,610 |
| 15 | Arizona | $45,420 | $45,780 | $22 | +7.2% | 2,130 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $45,150 | $44,820 | $22 | +6.5% | 210 |
| 17 | Vermont | $45,140 | $45,580 | $22 | +6.5% | 370 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $44,890 | $43,930 | $22 | +5.9% | 1,590 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $44,210 | $45,980 | $21 | +4.3% | 3,510 |
| 20 | Maryland | $44,150 | $44,130 | $21 | +4.2% | 1,500 |
| 21 | Indiana | $43,050 | $42,440 | $21 | +1.6% | 1,850 |
| 22 | Montana | $42,690 | $41,600 | $21 | +0.7% | 740 |
| 23 | Nevada | $42,670 | $40,290 | $21 | +0.7% | 1,560 |
| 24 | Utah | $42,480 | $43,440 | $20 | +0.2% | 1,500 |
| 25 | Maine | $42,380 | $38,250 | $20 | +0% | 830 |
| 26 | Illinois | $41,980 | $39,240 | $20 | -0.9% | 7,710 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $41,780 | $38,340 | $20 | -1.4% | 3,540 |
| 28 | Florida | $41,720 | $42,790 | $20 | -1.6% | 10,590 |
| 29 | Virginia | $41,650 | $39,770 | $20 | -1.7% | 2,630 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $41,060 | $37,310 | $20 | -3.1% | 520 |
| 31 | Michigan | $41,010 | $39,350 | $20 | -3.2% | 4,230 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $40,850 | $40,080 | $20 | -3.6% | 470 |
| 33 | Missouri | $40,810 | $37,860 | $20 | -3.7% | 2,160 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $40,620 | $39,790 | $20 | -4.2% | 2,380 |
| 35 | Idaho | $40,610 | $38,030 | $20 | -4.2% | 1,480 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $40,260 | $36,640 | $19 | -5% | 810 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $39,880 | $37,630 | $19 | -5.9% | 1,380 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $39,570 | $38,240 | $19 | -6.6% | 3,120 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $39,550 | $39,960 | $19 | -6.7% | 2,650 |
| 40 | Georgia | $39,320 | $38,540 | $19 | -7.2% | 4,420 |
| 41 | Kansas | $39,320 | $37,320 | $19 | -7.2% | 1,200 |
| 42 | Ohio | $38,880 | $37,630 | $19 | -8.3% | 5,640 |
| 43 | Iowa | $38,450 | $37,750 | $18 | -9.3% | 4,480 |
| 44 | Texas | $38,360 | $37,400 | $18 | -9.5% | 11,260 |
| 45 | Alabama | $37,130 | $36,500 | $18 | -12.4% | 2,350 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $36,940 | $36,790 | $18 | -12.8% | 2,240 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $35,390 | $35,430 | $17 | -16.5% | 1,670 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $35,070 | $35,070 | $17 | -17.2% | 1,810 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $34,860 | $34,380 | $17 | -17.7% | 1,290 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $33,250 | $33,570 | $16 | -21.5% | 600 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $32,860 | $29,700 | $16 | -22.5% | 1,160 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 487 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $60,600 | $56,640 | 1,300 |
| 2 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $57,930 | $55,030 | 100 |
| 3 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $57,920 | $62,010 | 30 |
| 4 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $54,980 | $52,710 | 70 |
| 5 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $53,550 | $49,750 | 40 |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $52,130 | $53,930 | 110 |
| 7 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $51,980 | $51,810 | 840 |
| 8 | El Centro, CA | $51,960 | $51,070 | 70 |
| 9 | Bend, OR | $51,690 | $51,380 | 90 |
| 10 | Bellingham, WA | $50,970 | $50,490 | 90 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing butchers and meat cutterss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $58,990 | $60,120 | 1,070 |
| 2 | Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $58,990 | $60,120 | 1,070 |
| 3 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $58,700 | $59,880 | 1,080 |
| 4 | Sector 99 - Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS | $58,700 | $59,880 | 1,080 |
| 5 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $58,410 | $59,480 | 1,130 |
| 6 | Special Food Services | $54,930 | $53,640 | 40 |
| 7 | Accommodation | $54,060 | $57,050 | 140 |
| 8 | Traveler Accommodation | $54,060 | $57,050 | 140 |
| 9 | Casino Hotels | $52,280 | $51,670 | 90 |
| 10 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $49,810 | $45,520 | 40 |
| 11 | General Merchandise Retailers | $47,240 | $50,640 | 12,650 |
| 12 | Animal Food Manufacturing | $45,170 | $43,410 | 90 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do butchers and meat cutters make in the U.S.?
The median butchers and meat cutters salary in the United States is $40,140 per year (mean $42,380), and about 80% earn between $29,460 and $58,110.
How much do butchers and meat cutters make per hour?
Roughly $20 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $42,380 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays butchers and meat cutters the most?
Washington has the highest average pay for butchers and meat cutters at $52,570 per year (median $51,670).
What is the job outlook for butchers and meat cutters?
Employment is projected to change +1% from 2024 to 2034 (Slower than average), with about 16,900 openings per year.