Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Alabama
Butchers and Meat Cutters in Alabama earn a median of $36,500 a year ($17.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,350 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,960 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $40,140. Alabama ranks 46th of 51 states for butchers and meat cutters pay. There are 1.1 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $37,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Alabama
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,430 | $12.71 |
| 25th percentile | $30,230 | $14.53 |
| Median | $36,500 | $17.55 |
| 75th percentile | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,960 | $23.06 |
| Average (mean) | $37,130 | $17.85 |
Half of butchers and meat cutters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,041.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,520.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,403.85 |
| Weekly | $701.92 |
| Hourly | $17.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,500 salary, see how much house you can afford in Alabama at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in cities in Alabama
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | $40,690 | 210 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $37,440 | 150 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $36,940 | 110 |
| Birmingham, AL | $36,920 | 570 |
| Mobile, AL | $36,870 | 190 |
| Montgomery, AL | $36,850 | 170 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $36,810 | 140 |
| Decatur, AL | $36,780 | 50 |
| Dothan, AL | $36,690 | 90 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $35,770 | 120 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $35,300 | 50 |
| Gadsden, AL | $35,040 | 50 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $34,900 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for butchers and meat cutters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $51,670 |
| Alaska | $50,450 |
| Hawaii | $50,080 |
| Oregon | $49,360 |
| District of Columbia | $48,760 |
| Massachusetts | $48,430 |
| New Hampshire | $47,740 |
| Colorado | $47,490 |
| New York | $47,080 |
| Delaware | $47,040 |
Related jobs in Alabama
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $31,080 | $14.94 |
| Baker | $34,030 | $16.36 |
| Food Batchmaker | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $37,510 | $18.04 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $27,080 | $13.02 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $42,700 | $20.53 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,060 | $35.13 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $40,010 | $19.24 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,490 | $23.31 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $35,910 | $17.26 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $43,830 | $21.07 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $39,010 | $18.76 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,250 | $21.27 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a butchers and meat cutters make in Alabama?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in Alabama is $36,500 a year, or $17.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in Alabama?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in Alabama earn at least $47,960 a year. The top 25% earn $43,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in Alabama?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,430 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $30,230 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in Alabama?
About 2,350 butchers and meat cutters are employed in Alabama, not counting the self-employed.