Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Lincoln, NE
Butchers and Meat Cutters in the Lincoln, NE metro area earn a median of $37,180 a year ($17.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,100 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $40,140. Pay here is 1% lower than the Nebraska statewide median of $37,630. There are 1.1 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Lincoln, NE
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,840 | $13.86 |
| 25th percentile | $30,910 | $14.86 |
| Median | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| 75th percentile | $46,170 | $22.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| Average (mean) | $38,850 | $18.68 |
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 | $3,098.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,549.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,430 |
| Weekly | $715 |
| Hourly | $17.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,180 salary, see how much house you can afford in Nebraska 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $42,740 | 270 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $41,700 | 780 |
| Grand Island, NE | $37,490 | 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 Nebraska statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lincoln, NE
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| Food Batchmaker | $44,600 | $21.44 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $40,100 | $19.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,310 | $36.21 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,990 | $25.96 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,900 | $21.59 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $57,590 | $27.69 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $52,340 | $25.17 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| Machinist | $57,820 | $27.80 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,080 | $22.64 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,690 | $22.93 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,040 | $23.10 |
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 Lincoln, NE?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in the Lincoln, NE metro area is $37,180 a year, or $17.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in Lincoln, NE?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in the Lincoln, NE metro area earn at least $49,100 a year. The top 25% earn $46,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in Lincoln, NE?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,840 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $30,910 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in Lincoln, NE?
About 200 butchers and meat cutters are employed in the Lincoln, NE metro area, not counting the self-employed.