51 Series · SOC 51-3022
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $38,300
- Median / year
- $48,150
- Top 10% earn
- +5.5%
- Growth '23–'33
- 145,700
- US workers
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers earn a median of $38,300 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $38,300, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $29,980 (10th percentile) to $48,150 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 145,700 US workers. Colorado pays the most ($50,390), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers earn a median of $38,300, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 9% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #95 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 5.5% by 2033.
- $38,300
- Median annual wage
- Top 91%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #95 of 105
- in Production
- 1.6×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Colorado at $50,390. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers (SOC 51-3022) pays a national median of $38,300 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $29,980 at the 10th percentile to $48,150 at the 90th, with a mean of $39,280 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 145,700 Americans work in this occupation across 52 reporting states and 201 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +5.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 18,400 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Colorado pays the highest state median at $50,390, which is +32% above the national figure. The top metro is Topeka, KS at $52,050 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$38,300
per year
Median Hourly
$18.41/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$39,280
average
Employment
145,700
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$38,300 Bottom 9% higher than 9% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 22 51-series occupations with growth data, Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers sits on the faster-growing side at +5.5% growth and $38,300 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+5.5%
About average
Annual Openings
18,400
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Use knives, cleavers, meat saws, bandsaws, or other equipment to perform meat cutting and trimming.
- ▸ Weigh meats and tag containers for weight and contents.
- ▸ Process primal parts into cuts that are ready for retail use.
- ▸ Inspect meat products for defects, bruises or blemishes and remove them along with any excess fat.
- ▸ Cut and trim meat to prepare for packing.
- ▸ Separate meats and byproducts into specified containers and seal containers.
- ▸ Prepare ready-to-heat foods by filleting meat or fish or cutting it into bite-sized pieces, preparing and adding vegetables or applying sauces or breading.
- ▸ Clean, trim, slice, and section carcasses for future processing.
- ▸ Remove parts, such as skin, feathers, scales or bones, from carcass.
- ▸ Obtain and distribute specified meat or carcass.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$29,980
25th Percentile
$35,350
Median
$38,300
75th Percentile
$44,170
90th Percentile
$48,150
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 52 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $50,390 | +32% above national |
| 2 | Arizona | $48,550 | +27% above national |
| 3 | Kansas | $48,080 | +26% above national |
| 4 | Nebraska | $47,580 | +24% above national |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $47,260 | +23% above national |
| 6 | North Dakota | $47,250 | +23% above national |
| 7 | Michigan | $44,430 | +16% above national |
| 8 | South Dakota | $44,290 | +16% above national |
| 9 | Utah | $44,150 | +15% above national |
| 10 | Minnesota | $43,400 | +13% above national |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $43,300 | +13% above national |
| 12 | Iowa | $43,190 | +13% above national |
| 13 | Washington | $43,010 | +12% above national |
| 14 | Indiana | $42,450 | +11% above national |
| 15 | Missouri | $41,890 | +9% above national |
| 16 | Illinois | $40,690 | +6% above national |
| 17 | Hawaii | $40,260 | +5% above national |
| 18 | Vermont | $40,110 | +5% above national |
| 19 | Georgia | $39,330 | +3% above national |
| 20 | Idaho | $39,200 | +2% above national |
| 21 | Maine | $39,170 | +2% above national |
| 22 | North Carolina | $39,170 | +2% above national |
| 23 | Kentucky | $39,150 | +2% above national |
| 24 | Arkansas | $37,980 | 1% below national |
| 25 | Nevada | $37,920 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Mississippi | $37,890 | 1% below national |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $37,740 | 1% below national |
| 28 | Tennessee | $37,590 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Montana | $37,440 | 2% below national |
| 30 | New York | $37,330 | 3% below national |
| 31 | Alaska | $37,180 | 3% below national |
| 32 | Wyoming | $37,040 | 3% below national |
| 33 | Ohio | $37,020 | 3% below national |
| 34 | West Virginia | $36,870 | 4% below national |
| 35 | California | $36,570 | 5% below national |
| 36 | Massachusetts | $36,570 | 5% below national |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $36,480 | 5% below national |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $36,300 | 5% below national |
| 39 | Virginia | $36,170 | 6% below national |
| 40 | Oregon | $36,060 | 6% below national |
| 41 | Texas | $35,890 | 6% below national |
| 42 | Delaware | $35,500 | 7% below national |
| 43 | New Jersey | $34,930 | 9% below national |
| 44 | South Carolina | $34,790 | 9% below national |
| 45 | Connecticut | $34,780 | 9% below national |
| 46 | Maryland | $32,950 | 14% below national |
| 47 | New Mexico | $31,240 | 18% below national |
| 48 | Florida | $31,160 | 19% below national |
| 49 | Alabama | $31,080 | 19% below national |
| 50 | Louisiana | $27,850 | 27% below national |
| 51 | Guam | $27,660 | 28% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $24,550 | 36% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 201 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Topeka, KS | $52,050 | +36% above national |
| 2 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $50,600 | +32% above national |
| 3 | Sheboygan, WI | $50,410 | +32% above national |
| 4 | Omaha, NE-IA | $49,810 | +30% above national |
| 5 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $48,890 | +28% above national |
| 6 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $48,880 | +28% above national |
| 7 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $48,550 | +27% above national |
| 8 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $48,080 | +26% above national |
| 9 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $47,580 | +24% above national |
| 10 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $47,110 | +23% above national |
| 11 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $45,820 | +20% above national |
| 12 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $45,800 | +20% above national |
| 13 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $45,750 | +19% above national |
| 14 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $45,330 | +18% above national |
| 15 | Akron, OH | $45,170 | +18% above national |
| 16 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $45,160 | +18% above national |
| 17 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $45,130 | +18% above national |
| 18 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $44,920 | +17% above national |
| 19 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $44,280 | +16% above national |
| 20 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $44,240 | +16% above national |
| 21 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $44,220 | +15% above national |
| 22 | Winston-Salem, NC | $44,020 | +15% above national |
| 23 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $43,830 | +14% above national |
| 24 | Boise City, ID | $43,480 | +14% above national |
| 25 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $43,400 | +13% above national |
| 26 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $43,340 | +13% above national |
| 27 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $43,190 | +13% above national |
| 28 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $43,160 | +13% above national |
| 29 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $43,150 | +13% above national |
| 30 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $43,040 | +12% above national |
| 31 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $42,770 | +12% above national |
| 32 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $42,750 | +12% above national |
| 33 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $42,450 | +11% above national |
| 34 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $42,140 | +10% above national |
| 35 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $41,920 | +9% above national |
| 36 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $41,890 | +9% above national |
| 37 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $41,460 | +8% above national |
| 38 | Fargo, ND-MN | $41,400 | +8% above national |
| 39 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $41,160 | +7% above national |
| 40 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $40,990 | +7% above national |
| 41 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $40,860 | +7% above national |
| 42 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $40,690 | +6% above national |
| 43 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $40,640 | +6% above national |
| 44 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $40,440 | +6% above national |
| 45 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $40,090 | +5% above national |
| 46 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $39,930 | +4% above national |
| 47 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $39,920 | +4% above national |
| 48 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $39,860 | +4% above national |
| 49 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $39,790 | +4% above national |
| 50 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $39,750 | +4% above national |
| 51 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $39,730 | +4% above national |
| 52 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $39,470 | +3% above national |
| 53 | Gainesville, GA | $39,420 | +3% above national |
| 54 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $39,420 | +3% above national |
| 55 | Reno, NV | $39,390 | +3% above national |
| 56 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $39,300 | +3% above national |
| 57 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $39,290 | +3% above national |
| 58 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $39,200 | +2% above national |
| 59 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $39,180 | +2% above national |
| 60 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $39,080 | +2% above national |
| 61 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $38,830 | +1% above national |
| 62 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $38,770 | +1% above national |
| 63 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,750 | +1% above national |
| 64 | Morristown, TN | $38,720 | +1% above national |
| 65 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $38,710 | +1% above national |
| 66 | Vallejo, CA | $38,660 | +1% above national |
| 67 | St. Cloud, MN | $38,650 | +1% above national |
| 68 | Jackson, TN | $38,620 | +1% above national |
| 69 | Lancaster, PA | $38,580 | +1% above national |
| 70 | Rochester, NY | $38,440 | same as national |
| 71 | Bellingham, WA | $38,340 | same as national |
| 72 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $38,300 | same as national |
| 73 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $38,170 | same as national |
| 74 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,150 | same as national |
| 75 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $38,100 | 1% below national |
| 76 | Springfield, MA | $38,050 | 1% below national |
| 77 | Green Bay, WI | $38,030 | 1% below national |
| 78 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,020 | 1% below national |
| 79 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $37,980 | 1% below national |
| 80 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $37,950 | 1% below national |
| 81 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $37,940 | 1% below national |
| 82 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $37,940 | 1% below national |
| 83 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $37,940 | 1% below national |
| 84 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $37,910 | 1% below national |
| 85 | Syracuse, NY | $37,790 | 1% below national |
| 86 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $37,780 | 1% below national |
| 87 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $37,760 | 1% below national |
| 88 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $37,690 | 2% below national |
| 89 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $37,680 | 2% below national |
| 90 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $37,630 | 2% below national |
| 91 | Richmond, VA | $37,630 | 2% below national |
| 92 | Salinas, CA | $37,630 | 2% below national |
| 93 | Columbus, OH | $37,600 | 2% below national |
| 94 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $37,550 | 2% below national |
| 95 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $37,540 | 2% below national |
| 96 | Jackson, MS | $37,500 | 2% below national |
| 97 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $37,480 | 2% below national |
| 98 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $37,460 | 2% below national |
| 99 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $37,440 | 2% below national |
| 100 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $37,320 | 3% below national |
| 101 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $37,310 | 3% below national |
| 102 | Anchorage, AK | $37,280 | 3% below national |
| 103 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $37,260 | 3% below national |
| 104 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $37,260 | 3% below national |
| 105 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $37,210 | 3% below national |
| 106 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $37,210 | 3% below national |
| 107 | Mankato, MN | $37,190 | 3% below national |
| 108 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $37,180 | 3% below national |
| 109 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $37,020 | 3% below national |
| 110 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $37,010 | 3% below national |
| 111 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $36,980 | 3% below national |
| 112 | New Haven, CT | $36,930 | 4% below national |
| 113 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $36,910 | 4% below national |
| 114 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $36,900 | 4% below national |
| 115 | Decatur, AL | $36,760 | 4% below national |
| 116 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $36,710 | 4% below national |
| 117 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $36,670 | 4% below national |
| 118 | Cleveland, OH | $36,660 | 4% below national |
| 119 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $36,650 | 4% below national |
| 120 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $36,540 | 5% below national |
| 121 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $36,470 | 5% below national |
| 122 | Huntsville, AL | $36,400 | 5% below national |
| 123 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $36,320 | 5% below national |
| 124 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $36,290 | 5% below national |
| 125 | Corpus Christi, TX | $36,270 | 5% below national |
| 126 | Modesto, CA | $36,270 | 5% below national |
| 127 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $36,220 | 5% below national |
| 128 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $36,170 | 6% below national |
| 129 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $36,160 | 6% below national |
| 130 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $36,080 | 6% below national |
| 131 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $36,070 | 6% below national |
| 132 | Oklahoma City, OK | $36,070 | 6% below national |
| 133 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $36,070 | 6% below national |
| 134 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $36,060 | 6% below national |
| 135 | Rochester, MN | $36,050 | 6% below national |
| 136 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $36,030 | 6% below national |
| 137 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $35,990 | 6% below national |
| 138 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $35,880 | 6% below national |
| 139 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,670 | 7% below national |
| 140 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $35,670 | 7% below national |
| 141 | Columbia, SC | $35,660 | 7% below national |
| 142 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $35,660 | 7% below national |
| 143 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,520 | 7% below national |
| 144 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $35,500 | 7% below national |
| 145 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $35,490 | 7% below national |
| 146 | Birmingham, AL | $35,410 | 8% below national |
| 147 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $35,350 | 8% below national |
| 148 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $35,350 | 8% below national |
| 149 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $35,340 | 8% below national |
| 150 | Merced, CA | $35,070 | 8% below national |
| 151 | Bangor, ME | $35,010 | 9% below national |
| 152 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $35,000 | 9% below national |
| 153 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $35,000 | 9% below national |
| 154 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $34,980 | 9% below national |
| 155 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $34,930 | 9% below national |
| 156 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $34,620 | 10% below national |
| 157 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $34,620 | 10% below national |
| 158 | Binghamton, NY | $34,470 | 10% below national |
| 159 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $34,470 | 10% below national |
| 160 | Duluth, MN-WI | $34,420 | 10% below national |
| 161 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $34,240 | 11% below national |
| 162 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $34,090 | 11% below national |
| 163 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $34,010 | 11% below national |
| 164 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $33,710 | 12% below national |
| 165 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $33,580 | 12% below national |
| 166 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $33,470 | 13% below national |
| 167 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $33,370 | 13% below national |
| 168 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $32,950 | 14% below national |
| 169 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $32,850 | 14% below national |
| 170 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $32,690 | 15% below national |
| 171 | Jacksonville, FL | $32,470 | 15% below national |
| 172 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $32,430 | 15% below national |
| 173 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $32,240 | 16% below national |
| 174 | Salisbury, MD | $32,210 | 16% below national |
| 175 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $32,210 | 16% below national |
| 176 | Albuquerque, NM | $32,170 | 16% below national |
| 177 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $32,070 | 16% below national |
| 178 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $31,380 | 18% below national |
| 179 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $31,310 | 18% below national |
| 180 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $31,220 | 18% below national |
| 181 | Knoxville, TN | $30,520 | 20% below national |
| 182 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $30,190 | 21% below national |
| 183 | Cleveland, TN | $30,160 | 21% below national |
| 184 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $29,990 | 22% below national |
| 185 | Johnson City, TN | $29,860 | 22% below national |
| 186 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $29,400 | 23% below national |
| 187 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $29,320 | 23% below national |
| 188 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $28,840 | 25% below national |
| 189 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $28,630 | 25% below national |
| 190 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $28,440 | 26% below national |
| 191 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $28,260 | 26% below national |
| 192 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $27,650 | 28% below national |
| 193 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $27,460 | 28% below national |
| 194 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $26,850 | 30% below national |
| 195 | Monroe, LA | $26,670 | 30% below national |
| 196 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $26,670 | 30% below national |
| 197 | Mobile, AL | $26,470 | 31% below national |
| 198 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $24,550 | 36% below national |
| 199 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $24,130 | 37% below national |
| 200 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $23,290 | 39% below national |
| 201 | Rocky Mount, NC | $21,470 | 44% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers make? ▼
What state pays Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers? ▼
How dangerous is being a Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers? ▼
Is Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers a good career? ▼
How does Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $44,170/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Colorado leads at $50,390/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.