Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Butchers and Meat Cutters in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median of $37,260 a year ($17.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 450 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,850 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $40,140. Pay here is 7% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $39,960. There are 0.73 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $39,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,510 | $12.26 |
| 25th percentile | $33,220 | $15.97 |
| Median | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| 75th percentile | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,850 | $23.97 |
| Average (mean) | $39,120 | $18.81 |
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 | $3,105 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,552.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,433.08 |
| Weekly | $716.54 |
| Hourly | $17.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,260 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $44,010 | 920 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $40,580 | 220 |
| Morristown, TN | $39,960 | 90 |
| Jackson, TN | $38,840 | 90 |
| Knoxville, TN | $37,580 | 290 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $37,360 | 260 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $36,900 | 110 |
| Johnson City, TN | $35,570 | 70 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $35,430 | 80 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $35,340 | 260 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $34,600 | 40 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $34,340 | 100 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $31,420 | 40 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $30,700 | 130 |
| Jackson, MS | $29,730 | 260 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $29,580 | 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 |
See Butchers and Meat Cutters pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $33,400 | $16.06 |
| Food Batchmaker | $38,010 | $18.28 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $30,190 | $14.51 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $55,270 | $26.57 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $38,530 | $18.52 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $65,990 | $31.73 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,350 | $18.44 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,600 | $23.37 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,570 | $20.47 |
| Machinist | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $31,560 | $15.17 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,470 | $24.26 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $37,260 a year, or $17.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn at least $49,850 a year. The top 25% earn $46,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,510 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $33,220 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
About 450 butchers and meat cutters are employed in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, not counting the self-employed.