Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Indiana
Butchers and Meat Cutters in Indiana earn a median of $42,440 a year ($20.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,770 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $40,140. Indiana ranks 22nd of 51 states for butchers and meat cutters pay. There are 0.58 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.66). The average (mean) salary is $43,050, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,510 | $15.15 |
| 25th percentile | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| Median | $42,440 | $20.40 |
| 75th percentile | $48,810 | $23.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,770 | $27.29 |
| Average (mean) | $43,050 | $20.70 |
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 | $3,536.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,768.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,632.31 |
| Weekly | $816.15 |
| Hourly | $20.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,440 salary, see how much house you can afford in Indiana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in cities in Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne, IN | $45,240 | 130 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $42,950 | 510 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $41,160 | 80 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $40,410 | 5,910 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $40,030 | 880 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $38,990 | 60 |
| Bloomington, IN | $37,780 | 40 |
| Evansville, IN | $37,590 | 70 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $37,260 | 50 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $37,200 | 460 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $37,040 | 30 |
| Columbus, IN | $36,650 | 40 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $35,780 | 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 |
Related jobs in Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmaker | $39,700 | $19.09 |
| Baker | $36,150 | $17.38 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $43,770 | $21.05 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $41,250 | $19.83 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,350 | $20.84 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,370 | $20.85 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,950 | $35.55 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,900 | $23.03 |
| Machinist | $57,800 | $27.79 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,730 | $23.91 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,600 | $21.44 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $48,590 | $23.36 |
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 Indiana?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in Indiana is $42,440 a year, or $20.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in Indiana?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in Indiana earn at least $56,770 a year. The top 25% earn $48,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,510 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $36,400 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in Indiana?
About 1,850 butchers and meat cutters are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.