Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in California
Butchers and Meat Cutters in California earn a median of $44,290 a year ($21.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 18,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,010 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $40,140. California ranks 17th of 51 states for butchers and meat cutters pay. There are 1.0 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $46,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,470 | $17.05 |
| 25th percentile | $37,160 | $17.87 |
| Median | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| 75th percentile | $57,140 | $27.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,010 | $29.33 |
| Average (mean) | $46,820 | $22.51 |
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 | $3,690.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,845.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,703.46 |
| Weekly | $851.73 |
| Hourly | $21.29 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,290 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | $51,960 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $49,610 | 790 |
| Napa, CA | $48,030 | 100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,820 | 940 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $47,600 | 390 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,790 | 1,390 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,490 | 2,720 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $46,000 | 360 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $45,890 | 310 |
| Vallejo, CA | $45,620 | 190 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $44,870 | 1,720 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $44,780 | 130 |
| Redding, CA | $44,540 | 80 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $44,360 | 220 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $44,260 | 130 |
| Chico, CA | $44,110 | 80 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $43,980 | 130 |
| Yuba City, CA | $43,380 | 60 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $42,400 | 320 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $42,400 | 6,510 |
| Salinas, CA | $42,380 | 210 |
| Modesto, CA | $41,720 | 300 |
| Merced, CA | $39,130 | 170 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,500 | 660 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,280 | 200 |
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 California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| Food Batchmaker | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $36,570 | $17.58 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,600 | $21.93 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,840 | $36.94 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $48,080 | $23.12 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,060 | $27.91 |
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 California?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in California is $44,290 a year, or $21.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in California?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in California earn at least $61,010 a year. The top 25% earn $57,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,470 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $37,160 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in California?
About 18,700 butchers and meat cutters are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.