Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salary in Arkansas
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers in Arkansas earn a median of $37,980 a year ($18.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,030 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,540 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $38,300. Arkansas ranks 24th of 50 states for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers pay. There are 6.9 meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 7.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Arkansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| 25th percentile | $36,890 | $17.74 |
| Median | $37,980 | $18.26 |
| 75th percentile | $39,030 | $18.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,540 | $21.41 |
| Average (mean) | $38,360 | $18.44 |
Half of meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers 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 | $3,165 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,582.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,460.77 |
| Weekly | $730.38 |
| Hourly | $18.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,980 salary, see how much house you can afford in Arkansas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salary in cities in Arkansas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $37,980 | 2,500 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $37,460 | 2,080 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $33,470 | 280 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $30,190 | 330 |
Highest-paying states for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $50,390 |
| Arizona | $48,550 |
| Kansas | $48,080 |
| Nebraska | $47,580 |
| New Hampshire | $47,260 |
| North Dakota | $47,250 |
| Michigan | $44,430 |
| South Dakota | $44,290 |
| Utah | $44,150 |
| Minnesota | $43,400 |
See Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers pay in every state.
Related jobs in Arkansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $30,380 | $14.61 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $37,800 | $18.17 |
| Food Batchmaker | $38,990 | $18.75 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $34,380 | $16.53 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,080 | $21.67 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,480 | $19.46 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $36,990 | $17.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $63,090 | $30.33 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $47,970 | $23.06 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,570 | $21.43 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,740 | $18.15 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $36,030 | $17.32 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3022. 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 meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers make in Arkansas?
The median salary for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Arkansas is $37,980 a year, or $18.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers make in Arkansas?
The top 10% of meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Arkansas earn at least $44,540 a year. The top 25% earn $39,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Arkansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,470 a year, and a quarter of meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers earn $36,890 or less.
How many meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers work in Arkansas?
About 9,030 meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers are employed in Arkansas, not counting the self-employed.