How much do Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers make?
The median pay for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers in the United States is $38,300 per year — about $18.41 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $29,980, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $48,150.
That is $23,090 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salary range by percentile
Half of all Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers earn between $35,350 and $44,170 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,980 | $14.41 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $35,350 | $17.00 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $38,300 | $18.41 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $44,170 | $21.24 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,150 | $23.15 |
Highest-paying states for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Colorado leads the country for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers pay at $50,390 a year, followed by Arizona ($48,550) and Kansas ($48,080). At the other end, Louisiana posts the lowest median at $27,850 — a gap of $22,540 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $50,390 | $24.23 | +32% |
| 2 | Arizona | $48,550 | $23.34 | +27% |
| 3 | Kansas | $48,080 | $23.12 | +26% |
| 4 | Nebraska | $47,580 | $22.88 | +24% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $47,260 | $22.72 | +23% |
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 50 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 146,000 people work as Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers in the United States. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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