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Butchersand Meat Cutter Salary in U.S.

The salary statistics of butchers and meat cutters are shown in Table 1. In the next few tables we compare the average salaries of butchers and meat cutters within different industry sectors and in the 50 states of the United States. The butchers and meat cutters annual salary statistics are from the national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 and published in April 2023 [1].

Table 1. Butchersand Meat Cutter Salary in U.S. (2022 survey)

Percentile BracketAverage Annual Salary
10th Percentile Wage
$26,030
25th Percentile Wage
$30,210
50th Percentile Wage
$36,930
75th Percentile Wage
$45,150
90th Percentile Wage
$51,180

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for butchers and meat cutters. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) butchers and meat cutters is $51,180. The median annual salary (50th percentile) is $36,930. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent is $26,030. Note that in the United States, the annual salary of the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) is almost 96% higher than that of the bottom 10 percent.

Median salary trend (2012 to 2022)

The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of butchers and meat cutters from 2012 to 2022.

YearMedian SalaryYearly Growth10-Year Growth
2022
$36,930
2.38% 22.85%
2021
$36,050
8.74% -
2020
$32,900
1.22% -
2019
$32,500
2.83% -
2018
$31,580
2.18% -
2017
$30,890
3.30% -
2016
$29,870
2.48% -
2015
$29,130
1.61% -
2014
$28,660
1.05% -
2013
$28,360
-0.46% -
2012
$28,490
- -

Table 2. Butchersand Meat Cutter Salary by Industry Sector (2022 survey)

The average salaries of butchers and meat cutters in 9 major industry sectors are shown in Table 2. We note that the salaries vary considerably within different industry sectors. The highest paying industry sector for butchers and meat cutters occupations is the management of companies and enterprises sector with an annual salary $59,910. The lowest paying sector is the transportation and warehousing sector (annual salary $29,190).

Industry Sector Median Annual Salary
Management of Companies and Enterprises
$59,910
Federal, State, and Local Government
$50,670
Accommodation and Food Services
$41,600
Wholesale Trade
$39,390
Manufacturing
$37,580
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
$37,450
Retail Trade
$36,730
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
$34,010
Transportation and Warehousing
$29,190

Table 3. Median Annual Wage of Butchers and Meat Cutters by States (2022 survey)

From the above tables we note that not only butchers and meat cutters salaries vary considerably based on one's education and experience, and the industry sectors, they also change considerably from state to state. In the following table we compare the median salary of butchers and meat cutters in all 50 states of the United States. We note that the median annual salaries range from $20,350 to $47,450. The highest paying state for butchers and meat cutters is Washington with a median annual salary of $47,450. The lowest paying state is Puerto Rico with a median annual salary of $20,350. For more salary information of butchers and meat cutters profession in a specific state, use the links in the table.

State Name Median Annual Salary
Washington
$47,450
Hawaii
$47,350
Delaware
$47,270
Massachusetts
$46,490
District of Columbia
$46,110
Alaska
$45,050
New Hampshire
$44,340
Oregon
$42,200
Maryland
$42,110
New Jersey
$40,340
Maine
$38,740
Connecticut
$38,730
Colorado
$38,720
Minnesota
$38,470
Nevada
$38,400
Wisconsin
$38,250
California
$38,220
Florida
$37,850
Pennsylvania
$37,760
South Carolina
$37,650
New York
$37,540
Utah
$37,440
Montana
$37,430
Wyoming
$37,340
Idaho
$37,080
North Dakota
$37,040
Michigan
$36,620
Vermont
$36,500
Virginia
$36,350
Illinois
$36,140
Tennessee
$35,920
North Carolina
$35,880
Texas
$35,550
Arizona
$35,350
New Mexico
$35,210
Rhode Island
$34,260
Ohio
$33,830
Nebraska
$33,760
Guam
$33,590
South Dakota
$33,300
Kansas
$33,290
Arkansas
$33,190
Georgia
$33,150
Oklahoma
$32,700
Missouri
$32,080
Kentucky
$30,540
Louisiana
$29,990
Indiana
$29,980
Iowa
$29,640
Alabama
$28,980
Mississippi
$28,430
West Virginia
$28,210
Virgin Islands
$26,800
Puerto Rico
$20,350