Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Louisiana
Butchers and Meat Cutters in Louisiana earn a median of $36,790 a year ($17.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,240 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,240 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $40,140. Louisiana ranks 44th of 51 states for butchers and meat cutters pay. There are 1.2 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Louisiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,120 | $12.08 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Median | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| 75th percentile | $43,600 | $20.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,240 | $23.19 |
| Average (mean) | $36,940 | $17.76 |
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 | $3,065.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,532.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,415 |
| Weekly | $707.50 |
| Hourly | $17.69 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,790 salary, see how much house you can afford in Louisiana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in cities in Louisiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $38,820 | 360 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $38,260 | 450 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $37,590 | 130 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $36,790 | 190 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $36,410 | 80 |
| Lafayette, LA | $36,360 | 320 |
| Hammond, LA | $36,110 | 90 |
| Alexandria, LA | $35,630 | 50 |
| Monroe, LA | $35,160 | 110 |
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 Louisiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $31,230 | $15.02 |
| Baker | $28,020 | $13.47 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $27,850 | $13.39 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $40,120 | $19.29 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,440 | $21.37 |
| Food Batchmaker | $34,620 | $16.64 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $62,250 | $29.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,520 | $37.27 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,490 | $23.80 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $45,210 | $21.73 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $78,580 | $37.78 |
| Machinist | $61,110 | $29.38 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $36,400 | $17.50 |
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 Louisiana?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in Louisiana is $36,790 a year, or $17.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in Louisiana?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in Louisiana earn at least $48,240 a year. The top 25% earn $43,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in Louisiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,120 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $28,600 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in Louisiana?
About 2,240 butchers and meat cutters are employed in Louisiana, not counting the self-employed.