Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Wisconsin
Butchers and Meat Cutters in Wisconsin earn a median of $45,980 a year ($22.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,510 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,210 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $40,140. Wisconsin ranks 11th of 51 states for butchers and meat cutters pay. There are 1.2 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $44,210, close to the median.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,170 | $15.95 |
| 25th percentile | $37,300 | $17.94 |
| Median | $45,980 | $22.11 |
| 75th percentile | $49,130 | $23.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,210 | $27.02 |
| Average (mean) | $44,210 | $21.26 |
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 | $3,831.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,915.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,768.46 |
| Weekly | $884.23 |
| Hourly | $22.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $45,980 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in cities in Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $47,980 | 330 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $47,780 | 910 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $47,450 | 180 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $47,340 | 60 |
| Kenosha, WI | $47,290 | 60 |
| Appleton, WI | $47,040 | 90 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $46,730 | 60 |
| Wausau, WI | $45,530 | 70 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $45,420 | 870 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $44,820 | 80 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $44,720 | 70 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $44,660 | 60 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $39,910 | 90 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $39,120 | 70 |
| Green Bay, WI | $37,300 | 610 |
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 Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmaker | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| Baker | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $37,510 | $18.03 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $43,300 | $20.82 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,000 | $19.23 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,560 | $23.34 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $40,590 | $19.52 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,840 | $35.98 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,410 | $28.08 |
| Machinist | $59,110 | $28.42 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $45,470 | $21.86 |
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in Wisconsin is $45,980 a year, or $22.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in Wisconsin earn at least $56,210 a year. The top 25% earn $49,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,170 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $37,300 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in Wisconsin?
About 3,510 butchers and meat cutters are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.