Iowa Median
$37,750
per year
Hourly Rate
$18.15
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-6% vs US median
US median $40,140
State Rank
#38 of 51
4,480 employed here
How much do Butchers and Meat Cutters make in Iowa?
Butchers and Meat Cutters in Iowa take home a median of $37,750 annually — roughly $18.15 an hour — which runs 6% below the national median of $40,140.
Within Iowa, entry-level pay starts around $30,200 while the top 10% make $46,510 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $34,630 and $43,180 a year.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary range in Iowa
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,200 | $14.52 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $34,630 | $16.65 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $37,750 | $18.15 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $43,180 | $20.76 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,510 | $22.36 |
|
How Iowa compares
Iowa ranks 38th out of 51 states and territories for Butchers and Meat Cutters pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in other states
Washington $51,670Alaska $50,450Hawaii $50,080Oregon $49,360District of Columbia $48,760Massachusetts $48,430New Hampshire $47,740Colorado $47,490New York $47,080Delaware $47,040Wisconsin $45,980Arizona $45,780Vermont $45,580Rhode Island $45,210Wyoming $44,820Connecticut $44,570California $44,290Maryland $44,130Minnesota $43,930Utah $43,440Florida $42,790Indiana $42,440Montana $41,600Nevada $40,290North Dakota $40,080Tennessee $39,960South Carolina $39,790Virginia $39,770Michigan $39,350Illinois $39,240Georgia $38,540New Jersey $38,540Pennsylvania $38,340Maine $38,250North Carolina $38,240Idaho $38,030Missouri $37,860Nebraska $37,630Ohio $37,630Texas $37,400Kansas $37,320South Dakota $37,310Louisiana $36,790New Mexico $36,640Alabama $36,500Kentucky $35,430Oklahoma $35,070Arkansas $34,380West Virginia $33,570Mississippi $29,700
Working as Butchers and Meat Cutters in Iowa
Nationally, about 136,000 people work as Butchers and Meat Cutters in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Iowa pay ($37,750) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Butchers and Meat Cutters make in Iowa?
The median Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Iowa is $37,750 per year, or about $18.15 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $30,200 at the entry level to $46,510 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Iowa pay compare to the national average?
Iowa pays Butchers and Meat Cutters about 6% less than the national median of $40,140. Iowa ranks 38th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Iowa a good state for Butchers and Meat Cutters?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $37,750 a year. About 4,480 Butchers and Meat Cutters are employed in Iowa. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Iowa?
The highest-paying occupations in Iowa include Emergency Medicine Physician ($429,050), Dermatologist ($424,970), Radiologist ($405,220), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Butchers and Meat Cutters salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.