Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Butchers and Meat Cutters in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $34,340 a year ($16.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,190 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $40,140. Pay here is about the same as the Arkansas statewide median of $34,380. There are 1.1 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,970 | $12.96 |
| 25th percentile | $29,010 | $13.95 |
| Median | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| 75th percentile | $40,020 | $19.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,190 | $21.72 |
| Average (mean) | $35,380 | $17.01 |
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 | $2,861.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,430.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,320.77 |
| Weekly | $660.38 |
| Hourly | $16.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,340 salary, see how much house you can afford in Arkansas 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $37,360 | 260 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $37,260 | 450 |
| Enid, OK | $36,100 | 40 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $36,050 | 680 |
| Tulsa, OK | $35,830 | 440 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $35,340 | 260 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $34,600 | 40 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $31,420 | 40 |
| Lawton, OK | $30,380 | 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 |
See Butchers and Meat Cutters pay in every state or the Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $38,800 | $18.66 |
| Food Batchmaker | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $43,160 | $20.75 |
| Baker | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $36,930 | $17.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $62,260 | $29.93 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $41,440 | $19.92 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,560 | $19.50 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $56,520 | $27.17 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $45,850 | $22.04 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,960 | $21.61 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $34,340 a year, or $16.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $45,190 a year. The top 25% earn $40,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,970 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $29,010 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 100 butchers and meat cutters are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.