363 metro areas

Butcher and Meat Cutter Salary by City (2026)

Butchers and meat cutters earn the most in Fairbanks, AK, an average of $62,000 a year, against $42,380 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Fairbanks, AK ($60,070 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $42,380BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $62,000Fairbanks, AK
Best after cost of living: $60,070Fairbanks, AK
Metro areas: 363With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for butchers and meat cutters

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

Fairbanks, AK$62,000
Seattle, WA$56,640
Bremerton, WA$55,040
Anchorage, AK$53,930
San Jose, CA$53,790
Kahului, HI$52,710
Barnstable Town, MA$51,810
Portland, OR-WA$51,810
Bend, OR$51,380
El Centro, CA$51,060

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for butchers and meat cutters
Item	Value
Fairbanks-College, AK	$62,000
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$56,640
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$55,040
Anchorage, AK	$53,930
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$53,790
Kahului-Wailuku, HI	$52,710
Barnstable Town, MA	$51,810
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$51,810
Bend, OR	$51,380
El Centro, CA	$51,060

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

Fairbanks, AK$62,000 nominal$60,070
Watertown, NY$47,820 nominal$54,530
El Centro, CA$51,060 nominal$53,650
Billings, MT$49,860 nominal$53,310
Fond du Lac, WI$48,360 nominal$52,770
Barnstable Town, MA$51,810 nominal$52,680
Bremerton, WA$55,040 nominal$52,120
Anchorage, AK$53,930 nominal$51,160
Longview, WA$49,750 nominal$51,000
Seattle, WA$56,640 nominal$50,970

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for butchers and meat cutters
Item	Value
Fairbanks-College, AK	$60,070
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY	$54,530
El Centro, CA	$53,650
Billings, MT	$53,310
Fond du Lac, WI	$52,770
Barnstable Town, MA	$52,680
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$52,120
Anchorage, AK	$51,160
Longview-Kelso, WA	$51,000
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$50,970

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Butcher and Meat Cutter salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Butcher and Meat Cutter pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	Fairbanks, AK	$62,000	$48,300	$68,760	$60,070
2	Seattle, WA	$56,640	$44,680	$62,520	$50,970
3	Bremerton, WA	$55,040	$42,080	$61,400	$52,120
4	Anchorage, AK	$53,930	$41,020	$60,300	$51,160
5	San Jose, CA	$53,790	$41,830	$59,680	$48,710
6	Kahului, HI	$52,710	$40,580	$58,700	$48,180
7	Barnstable Town, MA	$51,810	$38,600	$58,320	$52,680
8	Portland, OR-WA	$51,810	$42,950	$56,180	$49,150
9	Bend, OR	$51,380	$41,350	$56,330	$49,590
10	El Centro, CA	$51,060	$37,210	$57,910	$53,650
11	Kiryas Joel, NY	$51,060	$37,790	$57,600	$46,660
12	Mount Vernon, WA	$50,730	$39,270	$56,390	$49,520
13	Olympia, WA	$50,710	$38,670	$56,640	$48,910
14	Bellingham, WA	$50,480	$38,600	$56,350	$48,850
15	Vallejo, CA	$50,440	$38,730	$56,200	$46,500
16	Urban Honolulu, HI	$50,070	$36,400	$56,800	$45,120
17	Napa, CA	$49,880	$39,080	$55,180	$44,320
18	Billings, MT	$49,860	$35,960	$56,720	$53,310
19	Kingston, NY	$49,820	$36,670	$56,310	$49,470
20	Longview, WA	$49,750	$41,870	$53,640	$51,000
21	Boston, MA-NH	$49,730	$41,450	$53,790	$45,930
22	Santa Rosa, CA	$49,420	$38,580	$54,770	$45,850
23	San Francisco, CA	$49,400	$40,120	$53,960	$42,730
24	Amherst Town, MA	$49,030	$38,900	$54,020	$48,910
25	Wenatchee, WA	$48,940	$38,460	$54,100	$47,120
26	Sacramento, CA	$48,760	$36,500	$54,790	$45,710
27	Bridgeport, CT	$48,690	$37,290	$54,290	$45,560
28	Medford, OR	$48,610	$40,410	$52,640	$47,920
29	Grants Pass, OR	$48,590	$41,680	$51,980	$49,700
30	Stockton, CA	$48,480	$35,880	$54,680	$46,130
31	Denver, CO	$48,400	$37,480	$53,770	$45,750
32	Fond du Lac, WI	$48,360	$38,830	$53,060	$52,770
33	Salem, OR	$48,300	$39,520	$52,640	$46,600
34	Boulder, CO	$48,210	$37,040	$53,710	$45,830
35	New York, NY-NJ	$48,010	$35,190	$54,310	$42,650
36	San Luis Obispo, CA	$47,940	$36,710	$53,480	$44,150
37	Watertown, NY	$47,820	$35,820	$53,730	$54,530
38	Colorado Springs, CO	$47,800	$37,070	$53,080	$47,460
39	San Diego, CA	$47,760	$37,110	$53,000	$42,690
40	Worcester, MA	$47,760	$38,310	$52,400	$46,580
41	Oxnard, CA	$47,720	$36,170	$53,370	$43,170
42	Springfield, MA	$47,670	$36,550	$53,140	$49,620
43	Syracuse, NY	$47,550	$35,570	$53,460	$49,660
44	Dover, DE	$47,510	$37,750	$52,310	$48,720
45	Spokane, WA	$47,440	$37,900	$52,170	$47,280
46	Norwich, CT	$47,380	$36,710	$52,620	$47,170
47	Santa Maria, CA	$47,280	$36,360	$52,640	$43,460
48	Bozeman, MT	$47,260	$39,290	$51,190	$46,100
49	Buffalo, NY	$47,260	$36,630	$52,480	$49,310
50	Burlington, VT	$47,150	$37,270	$52,020	$46,710
51	Manchester, NH	$47,110	$39,120	$51,060	$44,590
52	Kenosha, WI	$47,030	$37,840	$51,560	$46,510
53	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$47,030	$36,480	$52,230	$44,870
54	Chico, CA	$46,970	$35,380	$52,670	$46,410
55	Albany, NY	$46,740	$35,550	$52,230	$46,940
56	Albany, OR	$46,650	$37,320	$51,270	$45,690
57	Santa Cruz, CA	$46,630	$37,070	$51,330	$42,430
58	Redding, CA	$46,490	$35,050	$52,120	$46,170
59	New Haven, CT	$46,430	$37,810	$50,670	$44,410
60	Yuba City, CA	$46,320	$35,550	$51,630	$44,440
61	Salinas, CA	$46,280	$36,590	$51,060	$42,440
62	Providence, RI-MA	$46,240	$35,570	$51,500	$45,430
63	Madison, WI	$46,160	$35,240	$51,540	$47,450
64	Rochester, NY	$46,160	$35,480	$51,420	$47,570
65	Yakima, WA	$46,130	$36,960	$50,630	$48,280
66	Riverside, CA	$46,110	$35,730	$51,230	$43,320
67	Eugene, OR	$46,070	$37,040	$50,500	$45,360
68	Naples, FL	$46,050	$37,040	$50,500	$44,620
69	Phoenix, AZ	$46,010	$36,190	$50,840	$44,530
70	Fort Collins, CO	$45,860	$35,860	$50,790	$45,350
71	Glens Falls, NY	$45,860	$35,400	$51,040	$48,340
72	Prescott Valley, AZ	$45,780	$36,730	$50,230	$46,590
73	Appleton, WI	$45,740	$34,920	$51,060	$49,490
74	Baltimore, MD	$45,660	$33,110	$51,830	$43,700
75	Midland, TX	$45,640	$31,220	$52,750	$47,650
76	Modesto, CA	$45,490	$35,840	$50,250	$43,700
77	Atlantic City, NJ	$45,450	$33,550	$51,290	$45,980
78	Tucson, AZ	$45,450	$35,570	$50,320	$46,910
79	Portland, ME	$45,340	$36,340	$49,770	$44,510
80	Allentown, PA-NJ	$45,280	$32,570	$51,540	$45,290
81	Hartford, CT	$45,240	$36,150	$49,730	$44,030
82	Kennewick, WA	$45,240	$36,880	$49,360	$45,200
83	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$45,140	$32,860	$51,170	$41,460
84	Fargo, ND-MN	$45,090	$34,900	$50,110	$49,620
85	Milwaukee, WI	$45,070	$33,780	$50,650	$46,490
86	Utica, NY	$45,030	$35,280	$49,840	$48,590
87	Merced, CA	$44,990	$35,280	$49,770	$45,780
88	Bakersfield, CA	$44,950	$35,150	$49,750	$44,560
89	Logan, UT-ID	$44,890	$37,610	$48,460	$46,800
90	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$44,870	$34,900	$49,770	$45,650
91	Lexington Park, MD	$44,800	$32,260	$50,980	$44,460
92	Santa Fe, NM	$44,800	$35,610	$49,340	$45,360
93	Hanford, CA	$44,720	$35,300	$49,340	$44,010
94	Racine, WI	$44,680	$34,720	$49,570	$46,560
95	Sierra Vista, AZ	$44,640	$35,480	$49,150	$50,020
96	Los Angeles, CA	$44,600	$35,650	$49,000	$39,270
97	Greeley, CO	$44,570	$35,530	$49,030	$44,490
98	Duluth, MN-WI	$44,490	$35,260	$49,050	$50,120
99	Sheboygan, WI	$44,470	$35,210	$49,030	$47,300
100	Crestview, FL	$44,430	$34,320	$49,400	$45,790
101	Fresno, CA	$44,300	$35,190	$48,780	$43,360
102	Flagstaff, AZ	$44,240	$38,630	$47,010	$44,100
103	Binghamton, NY	$44,140	$34,200	$49,050	$47,530
104	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$44,010	$32,050	$49,920	$42,910
105	Missoula, MT	$43,990	$35,530	$48,170	$45,610
106	St. Cloud, MN	$43,990	$33,740	$49,050	$50,200
107	Reno, NV	$43,890	$33,320	$49,090	$43,450
108	Jacksonville, NC	$43,850	$30,220	$50,560	$47,620
109	Nashville, TN	$43,800	$37,020	$47,150	$45,460
110	Indianapolis, IN	$43,680	$34,090	$48,400	$45,640
111	Austin, TX	$43,600	$30,370	$50,110	$44,460
112	Provo, UT	$43,580	$34,240	$48,190	$44,360
113	Cape Coral, FL	$43,430	$34,260	$47,940	$42,430
114	Tampa, FL	$43,410	$35,630	$47,240	$43,030
115	Boise City, ID	$43,160	$34,630	$47,360	$43,870
116	Kansas City, MO-KS	$43,120	$31,620	$48,800	$46,590
117	St. Louis, MO-IL	$43,060	$32,320	$48,340	$45,280
118	Kalamazoo, MI	$43,040	$32,200	$48,380	$45,380
119	Vineland, NJ	$42,990	$32,910	$47,960	$44,800
120	Palm Bay, FL	$42,950	$34,070	$47,320	$42,950
121	Orlando, FL	$42,870	$34,780	$46,840	$42,270
122	Waterbury, CT	$42,870	$35,440	$46,510	$42,970
123	Hilton Head Island, SC	$42,830	$35,760	$46,320	$43,700
124	Wausau, WI	$42,830	$33,610	$47,360	$46,230
125	Chicago, IL-IN	$42,760	$35,190	$46,510	$41,280
126	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$42,740	$35,240	$46,450	$43,640
127	Fort Wayne, IN	$42,720	$29,950	$49,030	$46,150
128	North Port, FL	$42,720	$33,990	$47,030	$41,710
129	Salt Lake City, UT	$42,700	$34,820	$46,570	$42,330
130	Grand Junction, CO	$42,640	$34,940	$46,450	$44,660
131	Trenton, NJ	$42,620	$32,740	$47,470	$41,310
132	Charleston, SC	$42,580	$35,670	$45,970	$42,170
133	Janesville, WI	$42,520	$32,140	$47,630	$45,380
134	Lewiston, ME	$42,520	$34,670	$46,380	$44,880
135	Harrisburg, PA	$42,470	$31,780	$47,740	$43,050
136	Ann Arbor, MI	$42,390	$32,840	$47,090	$42,020
137	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$42,370	$35,110	$45,970	$45,030
138	Great Falls, MT	$42,330	$33,490	$46,680	$43,710
139	Homosassa Springs, FL	$42,290	$34,940	$45,880	$45,250
140	Visalia, CA	$42,270	$34,630	$46,030	$42,340
141	Las Vegas, NV	$42,180	$30,450	$47,940	$42,090
142	Pueblo, CO	$42,140	$31,080	$47,610	$45,920
143	Eau Claire, WI	$42,100	$32,090	$47,030	$45,370
144	Gainesville, FL	$42,100	$35,070	$45,550	$43,520
145	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$42,100	$30,890	$47,610	$48,740
146	Pittsburgh, PA	$42,060	$32,180	$46,900	$44,430
147	Toledo, OH	$42,060	$29,100	$48,420	$45,990
148	Grand Rapids, MI	$42,040	$31,120	$47,420	$44,000
149	Kankakee, IL	$42,020	$32,090	$46,900	$43,590
150	Corpus Christi, TX	$41,970	$27,000	$49,360	$45,290
151	Wilmington, NC	$41,950	$32,490	$46,590	$43,510
152	Rochester, MN	$41,910	$33,180	$46,220	$46,150
153	York, PA	$41,870	$31,200	$47,110	$43,610
154	San Antonio, TX	$41,850	$26,000	$49,650	$44,180
155	Port St. Lucie, FL	$41,750	$34,010	$45,550	$41,660
156	St. George, UT	$41,720	$32,050	$46,490	$42,870
157	Huntsville, AL	$41,660	$33,050	$45,910	$44,760
158	Killeen, TX	$41,620	$28,160	$48,260	$45,670
159	Idaho Falls, ID	$41,580	$31,370	$46,610	$44,040
160	Detroit, MI	$41,560	$31,870	$46,320	$41,440
161	Durham, NC	$41,540	$30,410	$47,030	$42,570
162	Sebastian, FL	$41,480	$32,990	$45,680	$42,190
163	Helena, MT	$41,430	$31,050	$46,550	$43,300
164	Punta Gorda, FL	$41,430	$32,970	$45,610	$41,210
165	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$41,410	$31,720	$46,200	$47,780
166	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$41,410	$33,740	$45,180	$45,690
167	Raleigh, NC	$41,370	$31,370	$46,280	$42,150
168	Deltona, FL	$41,350	$33,530	$45,200	$41,610
169	Traverse City, MI	$41,330	$30,800	$46,510	$44,260
170	Lansing, MI	$41,310	$31,600	$46,070	$43,490
171	Jacksonville, FL	$41,290	$32,680	$45,510	$41,500
172	Scranton, PA	$41,270	$30,370	$46,630	$44,110
173	La Crosse, WI-MN	$41,230	$33,050	$45,260	$44,930
174	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$41,200	$29,100	$47,170	$43,200
175	Green Bay, WI	$41,160	$34,990	$44,200	$44,220
176	Oshkosh, WI	$41,140	$31,280	$46,010	$44,270
177	Wildwood, FL	$41,140	$33,700	$44,800	$48,160
178	Lakeland, FL	$41,120	$35,190	$44,050	$42,330
179	Bangor, ME	$41,020	$33,720	$44,600	$42,500
180	Columbus, OH	$41,020	$30,010	$46,430	$42,970
181	South Bend, IN-MI	$40,960	$32,470	$45,140	$44,110
182	Tallahassee, FL	$40,930	$31,760	$45,450	$43,580
183	Yuma, AZ	$40,930	$33,740	$44,490	$44,150
184	Albuquerque, NM	$40,910	$31,680	$45,450	$42,820
185	Lafayette, IN	$40,870	$31,840	$45,320	$43,740
186	Rapid City, SD	$40,870	$33,610	$44,450	$45,840
187	Reading, PA	$40,850	$30,660	$45,860	$42,090
188	Atlanta, GA	$40,770	$32,070	$45,050	$40,750
189	Spartanburg, SC	$40,770	$33,950	$44,140	$44,780
190	Champaign, IL	$40,750	$32,800	$44,680	$43,960
191	Charlotte, NC-SC	$40,750	$32,090	$44,990	$41,860
192	Lancaster, PA	$40,680	$29,100	$46,400	$41,400
193	Miami, FL	$40,660	$29,790	$46,030	$35,620
194	Warner Robins, GA	$40,580	$30,990	$45,300	$43,270
195	Asheville, NC	$40,560	$32,120	$44,740	$42,030
196	Richmond, VA	$40,540	$34,720	$43,410	$41,430
197	Omaha, NE-IA	$40,500	$31,990	$44,680	$44,060
198	Greenville, SC	$40,480	$33,720	$43,800	$43,410
199	Mansfield, OH	$40,460	$30,010	$45,610	$45,530
200	Ogden, UT	$40,460	$32,510	$44,390	$40,320
201	Fayetteville, NC	$40,410	$30,160	$45,450	$43,930
202	Jefferson City, MO	$40,390	$29,470	$45,760	$45,910
203	Pocatello, ID	$40,310	$30,120	$45,320	$45,340
204	Dayton, OH	$40,290	$28,850	$45,930	$43,470
205	Muskegon, MI	$40,270	$30,490	$45,070	$43,530
206	Hickory, NC	$40,250	$31,840	$44,370	$45,490
207	Panama City, FL	$40,250	$31,180	$44,700	$41,370
208	Manhattan, KS	$40,230	$29,330	$45,590	$44,620
209	Greensboro, NC	$40,210	$30,530	$44,970	$43,300
210	Joplin, MO-KS	$40,120	$29,120	$45,550	$46,800
211	Pensacola, FL	$40,120	$30,680	$44,760	$41,060
212	Savannah, GA	$40,080	$30,910	$44,620	$42,100
213	Lewiston, ID-WA	$39,960	$33,950	$42,910	$43,840
214	Ocala, FL	$39,920	$31,240	$44,200	$41,920
215	Lawrence, KS	$39,830	$29,890	$44,740	$44,140
216	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$39,830	$31,510	$43,910	$46,070
217	Wichita, KS	$39,810	$29,310	$44,990	$44,760
218	Bismarck, ND	$39,790	$26,080	$46,530	$43,710
219	Elkhart, IN	$39,790	$29,580	$44,820	$44,050
220	Michigan City, IN	$39,670	$29,740	$44,550	$43,270
221	Bloomington, IN	$39,640	$34,280	$42,290	$41,690
222	Grand Island, NE	$39,580	$30,870	$43,870	$45,670
223	Auburn, AL	$39,560	$31,200	$43,660	$44,990
224	Springfield, MO	$39,560	$29,640	$44,470	$44,660
225	New Orleans, LA	$39,420	$28,930	$44,570	$42,570
226	Bloomington, IL	$39,310	$31,800	$43,010	$42,030
227	State College, PA	$39,290	$30,640	$43,530	$40,600
228	Mankato, MN	$39,270	$28,830	$44,410	$43,180
229	Pinehurst, NC	$39,250	$32,140	$42,740	$44,430
230	San Angelo, TX	$39,250	$26,600	$45,490	$42,450
231	Columbia, SC	$39,230	$31,050	$43,260	$41,880
232	Erie, PA	$39,150	$27,480	$44,890	$43,050
233	Terre Haute, IN	$39,150	$32,260	$42,540	$44,590
234	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$39,120	$29,410	$43,910	$42,440
235	Evansville, IN	$39,100	$31,030	$43,080	$42,720
236	Valdosta, GA	$39,080	$29,350	$43,890	$44,270
237	Houston, TX	$39,060	$26,210	$45,410	$39,600
238	Albany, GA	$39,040	$29,490	$43,760	$44,530
239	Clarksville, TN-KY	$39,020	$30,120	$43,410	$42,900
240	Myrtle Beach, SC	$38,980	$32,390	$42,220	$41,630
241	Gainesville, GA	$38,960	$30,240	$43,240	$40,260
242	Altoona, PA	$38,940	$27,890	$44,370	$43,500
243	Lincoln, NE	$38,850	$29,910	$43,260	$42,420
244	Odessa, TX	$38,850	$27,410	$44,490	$41,380
245	Birmingham, AL	$38,810	$29,180	$43,560	$42,350
246	Knoxville, TN	$38,810	$28,680	$43,780	$41,930
247	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$38,770	$29,470	$43,370	$45,040
248	Des Moines, IA	$38,770	$32,410	$41,890	$42,280
249	Columbus, IN	$38,750	$33,570	$41,290	$41,670
250	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$38,690	$28,890	$43,510	$42,300
251	Battle Creek, MI	$38,650	$29,310	$43,240	$42,690
252	Topeka, KS	$38,650	$30,060	$42,870	$43,510
253	Rockford, IL	$38,600	$31,720	$42,000	$41,890
254	Brownsville, TX	$38,580	$22,800	$46,380	$44,870
255	Dallas, TX	$38,540	$28,120	$43,680	$37,380
256	Elizabethtown, KY	$38,540	$26,980	$44,240	$42,550
257	Augusta, GA-SC	$38,520	$29,020	$43,220	$41,910
258	Harrisonburg, VA	$38,520	$35,170	$40,190	$40,590
259	Lexington, KY	$38,520	$30,140	$42,660	$41,470
260	Baton Rouge, LA	$38,500	$27,520	$43,890	$42,410
261	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$38,500	$28,770	$43,310	$41,360
262	Sebring, FL	$38,480	$29,290	$43,010	$41,610
263	Springfield, IL	$38,460	$32,010	$41,620	$41,470
264	Lebanon, PA	$38,380	$32,340	$41,350	$41,170
265	Sandusky, OH	$38,360	$27,640	$43,640	$42,970
266	Peoria, IL	$38,330	$31,510	$41,700	$42,010
267	College Station, TX	$38,250	$25,500	$44,530	$42,060
268	Goldsboro, NC	$38,250	$28,790	$42,930	$43,240
269	Enid, OK	$38,210	$29,220	$42,640	$45,340
270	Decatur, AL	$38,150	$28,520	$42,890	$43,740
271	Farmington, NM	$38,150	$31,530	$41,410	$43,500
272	Daphne, AL	$38,130	$29,060	$42,580	$40,270
273	Flint, MI	$38,110	$29,660	$42,270	$40,960
274	Burlington, NC	$37,980	$30,510	$41,660	$40,750
275	Davenport, IA-IL	$37,940	$30,200	$41,770	$42,590
276	Winston, NC	$37,900	$28,790	$42,370	$41,180
277	Dubuque, IA	$37,840	$31,930	$40,770	$43,330
278	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$37,770	$29,660	$41,750	$40,110
279	Springfield, OH	$37,690	$27,600	$42,660	$41,650
280	Jackson, MI	$37,590	$29,620	$41,520	$40,960
281	Montgomery, AL	$37,560	$28,410	$42,060	$41,880
282	Twin Falls, ID	$37,560	$30,720	$40,930	$40,780
283	Laredo, TX	$37,520	$22,110	$45,120	$43,150
284	Morristown, TN	$37,500	$31,970	$40,230	$43,420
285	Fayetteville, AR	$37,480	$29,060	$41,620	$41,030
286	Midland, MI	$37,460	$30,640	$40,810	$40,750
287	Monroe, MI	$37,440	$29,370	$41,410	$40,050
288	Amarillo, TX	$37,420	$26,370	$42,850	$40,750
289	Waco, TX	$37,420	$25,960	$43,080	$40,430
290	Cleveland, OH	$37,380	$27,080	$42,430	$39,800
291	Columbia, MO	$37,380	$29,660	$41,160	$41,790
292	Youngstown, OH	$37,340	$26,000	$42,910	$42,730
293	Brunswick, GA	$37,320	$28,410	$41,720	$42,550
294	Mobile, AL	$37,320	$28,100	$41,870	$42,360
295	Rocky Mount, NC	$37,270	$28,250	$41,700	$42,350
296	Abilene, TX	$37,250	$25,420	$43,080	$41,220
297	Canton, OH	$37,250	$25,670	$42,950	$41,660
298	Lake Charles, LA	$37,250	$26,920	$42,330	$43,390
299	Athens, GA	$37,230	$28,520	$41,540	$39,890
300	Roanoke, VA	$37,230	$30,530	$40,540	$39,770
301	Niles, MI	$37,210	$29,310	$41,100	$40,280
302	Lafayette, LA	$37,150	$26,250	$42,520	$42,600
303	Las Cruces, NM	$37,130	$30,680	$40,290	$41,160
304	Waterloo, IA	$36,940	$30,140	$40,290	$42,430
305	Akron, OH	$36,920	$25,770	$42,390	$39,540
306	Lynchburg, VA	$36,880	$30,060	$40,230	$41,270
307	Wichita Falls, TX	$36,750	$26,060	$42,020	$41,060
308	Blacksburg, VA	$36,730	$30,260	$39,940	$39,620
309	Oklahoma City, OK	$36,570	$28,520	$40,520	$40,450
310	Ames, IA	$36,550	$30,910	$39,310	$41,150
311	McAllen, TX	$36,520	$23,590	$42,890	$42,520
312	Iowa City, IA	$36,420	$30,060	$39,560	$39,800
313	Greenville, NC	$36,400	$29,040	$40,020	$41,180
314	Saginaw, MI	$36,300	$28,410	$40,160	$39,940
315	Tuscaloosa, AL	$36,300	$27,350	$40,680	$41,380
316	Houma, LA	$36,280	$26,730	$40,980	$42,630
317	Shreveport, LA	$36,280	$26,460	$41,100	$42,800
318	Johnson City, TN	$36,250	$28,910	$39,870	$41,230
319	Tulsa, OK	$36,150	$28,830	$39,770	$40,520
320	Little Rock, AR	$36,090	$27,440	$40,350	$40,390
321	Macon, GA	$36,070	$28,580	$39,750	$40,740
322	Columbus, GA-AL	$35,960	$25,730	$41,020	$40,270
323	Anniston, AL	$35,940	$26,500	$40,600	$41,820
324	Lubbock, TX	$35,880	$25,130	$41,160	$39,290
325	Cedar Rapids, IA	$35,670	$28,910	$39,000	$40,100
326	Gulfport, MS	$35,630	$23,880	$41,430	$39,590
327	Dothan, AL	$35,530	$26,670	$39,890	$42,380
328	Hammond, LA	$35,530	$26,330	$40,060	$42,070
329	Bay City, MI	$35,480	$27,770	$39,290	$38,600
330	Charleston, WV	$35,460	$28,680	$38,810	$39,970
331	Jackson, TN	$35,440	$26,190	$40,020	$41,440
332	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$35,380	$27,540	$39,250	$41,190
333	Gadsden, AL	$35,300	$27,120	$39,310	$41,210
334	Kingsport, TN-VA	$35,260	$28,350	$38,670	$40,790
335	Johnstown, PA	$35,210	$25,040	$40,230	$40,980
336	Weirton, WV-OH	$35,170	$26,960	$39,210	$39,510
337	Alexandria, LA	$35,050	$26,170	$39,420	$40,910
338	Hattiesburg, MS	$34,900	$24,320	$40,120	$39,830
339	Beckley, WV	$34,840	$27,520	$38,440	$39,430
340	Lawton, OK	$34,840	$26,310	$39,020	$40,540
341	Bowling Green, KY	$34,690	$26,170	$38,920	$38,470
342	Florence, AL	$34,670	$25,940	$38,980	$40,880
343	Beaumont, TX	$34,590	$24,400	$39,600	$38,410
344	Florence, SC	$34,400	$27,540	$37,770	$39,640
345	Hot Springs, AR	$34,280	$27,060	$37,840	$39,990
346	Longview, TX	$34,200	$24,560	$38,940	$38,220
347	Monroe, LA	$34,050	$25,880	$38,060	$40,730
348	Owensboro, KY	$34,010	$24,980	$38,460	$38,380
349	Wheeling, WV-OH	$33,180	$24,170	$37,630	$37,570
350	Morgantown, WV	$33,070	$24,040	$37,520	$35,440
351	El Paso, TX	$32,740	$22,630	$37,730	$36,410
352	Texarkana, TX-AR	$32,610	$24,650	$36,520	$38,820
353	Jackson, MS	$32,340	$23,590	$36,650	$36,320
354	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$32,320	$24,770	$36,050	$36,550
355	Parkersburg, WV	$32,120	$26,210	$35,010	$36,890
356	Tyler, TX	$30,970	$23,380	$34,720	$33,610
357	Dalton, GA	$29,100	$17,160	$35,010	$32,390
358	San Juan, PR	$25,710	$21,990	$27,540	N/A
359	Mayaguez, PR	$25,250	$21,900	$26,890	N/A
360	Aguadilla, PR	$24,810	$21,920	$26,250	N/A
361	Arecibo, PR	$24,590	$22,050	$25,830	N/A
362	Ponce, PR	$24,230	$22,010	$25,330	N/A
363	Guayama, PR	$23,280	$22,210	$23,800	N/A

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Butcher and Meat Cutter salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays butchers and meat cutters the most?

Fairbanks, AK, where the average (mean) wage is $62,000 a year, followed by Seattle, WA ($56,640), Bremerton, WA ($55,040), Anchorage, AK ($53,930). The national mean is $42,380 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do butchers and meat cutters earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Fairbanks, AK ($60,070 at national prices, $62,000 nominal), Watertown, NY ($54,530 at national prices, $47,820 nominal), El Centro, CA ($53,650 at national prices, $51,060 nominal).

How much do butchers and meat cutters make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $48,010; Los Angeles, CA: $44,600; Chicago, IL-IN: $42,760; Dallas, TX: $38,540; Houston, TX: $39,060 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do butchers and meat cutters earn the least?

Of the 363 metro areas with their own estimate, Guayama, PR has the lowest mean wage, $23,280.