Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Pennsylvania
Butchers and Meat Cutters in Pennsylvania earn a median of $38,340 a year ($18.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,130 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $40,140. Pennsylvania ranks 33rd of 51 states for butchers and meat cutters pay. There are 0.58 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $41,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| 25th percentile | $34,790 | $16.72 |
| Median | $38,340 | $18.43 |
| 75th percentile | $48,480 | $23.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,130 | $27.95 |
| Average (mean) | $41,780 | $20.09 |
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 | $3,195 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,597.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,474.62 |
| Weekly | $737.31 |
| Hourly | $18.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,340 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $44,980 | 210 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $41,720 | 740 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $40,810 | 1,980 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $39,770 | 140 |
| Erie, PA | $39,710 | 70 |
| State College, PA | $39,030 | 30 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $38,450 | 150 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $38,340 | 90 |
| Reading, PA | $36,920 | 120 |
| Lancaster, PA | $36,660 | 190 |
| Altoona, PA | $36,610 | 30 |
| Lebanon, PA | $36,490 | 70 |
| Johnstown, PA | $35,560 | 30 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| Food Batchmaker | $39,920 | $19.19 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,710 | $20.54 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $41,620 | $20.01 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $49,660 | $23.87 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,160 | $21.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,990 | $36.05 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,320 | $23.23 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,480 | $21.39 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,900 | $25.43 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Machinist | $57,810 | $27.79 |
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in Pennsylvania is $38,340 a year, or $18.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in Pennsylvania earn at least $58,130 a year. The top 25% earn $48,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,000 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $34,790 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in Pennsylvania?
About 3,540 butchers and meat cutters are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.