Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Kentucky
Butchers and Meat Cutters in Kentucky earn a median of $35,430 a year ($17.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,670 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,690 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $40,140. Kentucky ranks 47th of 51 states for butchers and meat cutters pay. There are 0.83 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,390, close to the median.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,890 | $11.01 |
| 25th percentile | $28,350 | $13.63 |
| Median | $35,430 | $17.03 |
| 75th percentile | $41,640 | $20.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,690 | $22.93 |
| Average (mean) | $35,390 | $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 | $2,952.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,476.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,362.69 |
| Weekly | $681.35 |
| Hourly | $17.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,430 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $40,030 | 880 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $38,180 | 40 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $37,200 | 460 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $36,900 | 110 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $36,780 | 220 |
| Owensboro, KY | $35,370 | 50 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $33,370 | 100 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $33,340 | 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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmaker | $46,900 | $22.55 |
| Baker | $33,890 | $16.29 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $37,450 | $18.01 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,540 | $23.34 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,800 | $20.09 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,490 | $34.85 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,280 | $22.25 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,470 | $24.74 |
| Machinist | $58,660 | $28.20 |
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in Kentucky is $35,430 a year, or $17.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in Kentucky earn at least $47,690 a year. The top 25% earn $41,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,890 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $28,350 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in Kentucky?
About 1,670 butchers and meat cutters are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.