How Much Does a Butcher Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$40,140
Butchers in the U.S. earn a median of $40,140 a year, or $19.30 an hour. Half of butchers earn more than $40,140 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $58,110.
Pay percentiles for butchers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $14.17 | $29,460 |
| 25th | $17.07 | $35,510 |
| 50th (median) | $19.30 | $40,140 |
| 75th | $23.10 | $48,050 |
| 90th | $27.94 | $58,110 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Butchers and Meat Cutters (SOC 51-3021). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for butchers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $51,670 | $24.84 | +29% |
| Alaska | $50,450 | $24.26 | +26% |
| Hawaii | $50,080 | $24.08 | +25% |
| Oregon | $49,360 | $23.73 | +23% |
| District of Columbia | $48,760 | $23.44 | +21% |
| Massachusetts | $48,430 | $23.29 | +21% |
| New Hampshire | $47,740 | $22.95 | +19% |
| Colorado | $47,490 | $22.83 | +18% |
| New York | $47,080 | $22.63 | +17% |
| Delaware | $47,040 | $22.61 | +17% |
| United States | $40,140 | $19.30 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many butchers are there?
BLS counts about 136,430 butchers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Butchers and Meat Cutters”. The most jobs are in California (18,700), Texas (11,260) and Florida (10,590).
The mean (average) annual wage is $42,380, higher than the median of $40,140.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $3,345
- Biweekly
- $1,544
- Weekly
- $772
- Daily (8 hours)
- $154
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do butchers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for butchers is $19.30. The middle 50% earn between $17.07 and $23.10 an hour.
Which state pays butchers the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for butchers at $51,670, +29% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for butchers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of butchers earn less than $29,460 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.