Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Butchers and Meat Cutters in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $37,130 a year ($17.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,060 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $40,140. Pay here is 2% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $37,750. There are 2.5 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,940, close to the median.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,120 | $14.00 |
| 25th percentile | $30,980 | $14.90 |
| Median | $37,130 | $17.85 |
| 75th percentile | $41,090 | $19.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,060 | $21.66 |
| Average (mean) | $36,940 | $17.76 |
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 | $3,094.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,547.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,428.08 |
| Weekly | $714.04 |
| Hourly | $17.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,130 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $42,740 | 270 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $41,700 | 780 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $36,770 | 770 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $36,520 | 230 |
| Dubuque, IA | $36,520 | 110 |
| Ames, IA | $36,110 | 160 |
| Iowa City, IA | $35,810 | 170 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $35,150 | 200 |
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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| Food Batchmaker | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $50,310 | $24.19 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $51,600 | $24.81 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,250 | $24.64 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,080 | $24.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,370 | $36.24 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $48,520 | $23.33 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $48,300 | $23.22 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $46,620 | $22.41 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $50,400 | $24.23 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,330 | $23.72 |
| Machinist | $58,100 | $27.93 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $37,130 a year, or $17.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $45,060 a year. The top 25% earn $41,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,120 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $30,980 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 210 butchers and meat cutters are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.