Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Butchers and Meat Cutters in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $42,660 a year ($20.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 790 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,720 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $40,140. Pay here is 13% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $37,860. There are 0.59 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 $43,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $33,340 | $16.03 |
| Median | $42,660 | $20.51 |
| 75th percentile | $50,600 | $24.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,720 | $27.27 |
| Average (mean) | $43,060 | $20.70 |
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 | $3,555 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,777.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,640.77 |
| Weekly | $820.38 |
| Hourly | $20.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,660 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $42,030 | 890 |
| Kankakee, IL | $40,480 | 60 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $40,470 | 50 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $40,410 | 5,910 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $39,400 | 50 |
| Springfield, MO | $38,800 | 190 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $37,960 | 150 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $37,920 | 60 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $36,520 | 230 |
| Bloomington, IL | $36,400 | 70 |
| Springfield, IL | $35,860 | 80 |
| Peoria, IL | $35,490 | 130 |
| Rockford, IL | $35,360 | 130 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $35,110 | 30 |
| Columbia, MO | $34,170 | 90 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $35,830 | $17.23 |
| Food Batchmaker | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $39,860 | $19.17 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $46,860 | $22.53 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $40,740 | $19.59 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,690 | $18.60 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $38,840 | $18.67 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,210 | $36.16 |
| Machinist | $62,210 | $29.91 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,790 | $24.90 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,460 | $22.82 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $62,090 | $29.85 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,900 | $19.66 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $42,660 a year, or $20.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $56,720 a year. The top 25% earn $50,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $33,340 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 790 butchers and meat cutters are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.