Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Massachusetts
Butchers and Meat Cutters in Massachusetts earn a median of $48,430 a year ($23.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,480 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,120 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $40,140. Massachusetts ranks 6th of 51 states for butchers and meat cutters pay. There are 0.41 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $49,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Massachusetts
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| 25th percentile | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| Median | $48,430 | $23.29 |
| 75th percentile | $53,340 | $25.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,120 | $29.86 |
| Average (mean) | $49,210 | $23.66 |
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 | $4,035.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,017.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,862.69 |
| Weekly | $931.35 |
| Hourly | $23.29 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,430 salary, see how much house you can afford in Massachusetts at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in cities in Massachusetts
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | $50,290 | 50 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $48,910 | 1,150 |
| Worcester, MA | $46,720 | 130 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $46,670 | 40 |
| Springfield, MA | $45,800 | 100 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $45,210 | 380 |
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 Massachusetts
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| Food Batchmaker | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $36,570 | $17.58 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $43,200 | $20.77 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,400 | $21.83 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,960 | $23.06 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $37,780 | $18.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,920 | $38.42 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,720 | $22.46 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $47,130 | $22.66 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $52,270 | $25.13 |
| Machinist | $67,270 | $32.34 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,360 | $19.40 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $42,570 | $20.47 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in Massachusetts is $48,430 a year, or $23.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in Massachusetts?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in Massachusetts earn at least $62,120 a year. The top 25% earn $53,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in Massachusetts?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,370 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $41,740 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in Massachusetts?
About 1,480 butchers and meat cutters are employed in Massachusetts, not counting the self-employed.