Meat Cutter Salary in the United States

How much does a Meat Cutter make in the United States?

As of February 01, 2026, the average salary for a Meat Cutter in the United States is $33,078 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $16.

However, a Meat Cutter's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $38,143
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $30,974 to $35,729
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $29,059
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View as table View as graph 25% $30,974 10% $29,059 90% $38,143 75% $35,729 $33,078 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Meat Cutter Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $35,729 $2,977 $687 $17
Average $33,078 $2,756 $636 $16
25th Percentile $30,974 $2,581 $596 $15
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Key Factors That Influence Meat Cutter Salaries

A Meat Cutter's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Meat Cutter Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Meat Cutter's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $32,195
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $32,257
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $33,078
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $34,169
  • Expert (over 8 years): $34,247
Levels Salary
Entry Level Meat Cutter$32,195
Intermediate Level Meat Cutter$32,257
Senior Level Meat Cutter$33,078
Specialist Level Meat Cutter$34,169
Expert Level Meat Cutter$34,247
$32,195 0 yr
$32,257 < 2 yrs
$33,078 2-4 yrs
$34,169 5-8 yrs
$34,247 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Meat Cutters

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $41,721
  • San Francisco: $41,311
  • Oakland: $40,394

What Skills Can Increase a Meat Cutter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.79% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Foodservice (Mentioned in 3.76% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
  • Safety Standards (Mentioned in 1.74% Job Postings): Safety standards are designed to ensure the safety of products, activities and processes, etc. They may be advisory or compulsory and are normally laid down by an advisory or regulatory body that may be either voluntary or statutory.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.79%
Foodservice 3.76%
Safety Standards 1.74%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Meat Cutter's salary.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • WFM: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration
$35,724
8%
WFM
$35,393
7%
Leadership
$34,732
5%
Honesty and Integrity
$34,732
5%
Team Management
$34,732
5%
Foodservice
$34,401
4%
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How Education impacts a Meat Cutter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Meat Cutters enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Meat Cutter with a No Diploma is between $33,458 and $35,114).

Meat Cutter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Meat Cutter
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.1%
High School 53.0%
Associates 30.3%
Bachelors 10.6%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Meat Cutter Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Meat Cutter's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on February 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Meat Cutter

Salaries for a Meat Cutter can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $32,220 in 2023 to around $31,481 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Meat Cutter salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Meat Cutter Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$32,220
2024
$32,087
2025
$31,481
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $32,220
2024 $32,087
2025 $31,481
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Meat Cutter

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Meat Cutter

Here are companies hiring for Meat Cutter and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Meat Cutter Job

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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