Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Butchers and Meat Cutters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $39,780 a year ($19.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,040 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $40,140. Pay here is 4% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $38,240. There are 0.47 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.54). The average (mean) salary is $41,540, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| 25th percentile | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| Median | $39,780 | $19.12 |
| 75th percentile | $47,330 | $22.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,040 | $26.46 |
| Average (mean) | $41,540 | $19.97 |
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 | $3,315 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,657.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,530 |
| Weekly | $765 |
| Hourly | $19.12 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,780 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, NC | $43,710 | 40 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $41,220 | 440 |
| Asheville, NC | $40,500 | 200 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $39,680 | 810 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $39,020 | 530 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $38,850 | 210 |
| Wilmington, NC | $38,790 | 150 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $38,370 | 60 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $37,830 | 110 |
| Burlington, NC | $37,480 | 50 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $37,240 | 40 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $36,750 | 30 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $36,730 | 140 |
| Greenville, NC | $36,390 | 30 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $35,720 | 40 |
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 |
See Butchers and Meat Cutters pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $35,100 | $16.88 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $37,550 | $18.05 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,000 | $18.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,930 | $37.47 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,390 | $23.74 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $42,620 | $20.49 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $50,260 | $24.16 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $60,080 | $28.88 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,570 | $16.62 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $34,850 | $16.76 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| Printing Press Operator | $43,440 | $20.89 |
| Machinist | $50,740 | $24.40 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $39,780 a year, or $19.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $55,040 a year. The top 25% earn $47,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,640 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $34,850 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 160 butchers and meat cutters are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.