Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in North Carolina
Butchers and Meat Cutters in North Carolina earn a median of $38,240 a year ($18.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,080 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $40,140. North Carolina ranks 35th of 51 states for butchers and meat cutters pay. There are 0.63 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $39,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,510 | $13.71 |
| 25th percentile | $34,460 | $16.57 |
| Median | $38,240 | $18.38 |
| 75th percentile | $45,160 | $21.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,080 | $24.08 |
| Average (mean) | $39,570 | $19.02 |
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 | $3,186.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,593.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,470.77 |
| Weekly | $735.38 |
| Hourly | $18.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,240 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, NC | $43,710 | 40 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $41,220 | 440 |
| Asheville, NC | $40,500 | 200 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $39,780 | 160 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $39,680 | 810 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $39,020 | 530 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $38,850 | 210 |
| Wilmington, NC | $38,790 | 150 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $38,370 | 60 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $37,830 | 110 |
| Burlington, NC | $37,480 | 50 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $37,240 | 40 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $36,750 | 30 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $36,730 | 140 |
| Greenville, NC | $36,390 | 30 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $35,720 | 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| Baker | $34,510 | $16.59 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $39,930 | $19.20 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Food Batchmaker | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $39,070 | $18.79 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $40,330 | $19.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $69,640 | $33.48 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,790 | $18.65 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,150 | $19.78 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| Machinist | $55,230 | $26.56 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in North Carolina is $38,240 a year, or $18.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in North Carolina earn at least $50,080 a year. The top 25% earn $45,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,510 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $34,460 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in North Carolina?
About 3,120 butchers and meat cutters are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.