Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Virginia
Butchers and Meat Cutters in Virginia earn a median of $39,770 a year ($19.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,630 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,810 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $40,140. Virginia ranks 28th of 51 states for butchers and meat cutters pay. There are 0.64 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $41,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,290 | $15.04 |
| 25th percentile | $36,180 | $17.39 |
| Median | $39,770 | $19.12 |
| 75th percentile | $45,540 | $21.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,810 | $26.83 |
| Average (mean) | $41,650 | $20.03 |
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 | $3,314.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,657.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,529.62 |
| Weekly | $764.81 |
| Hourly | $19.12 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,770 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $44,160 | 1,610 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $41,220 | 440 |
| Richmond, VA | $40,120 | 550 |
| Roanoke, VA | $38,100 | 80 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $37,470 | n/a |
| Lynchburg, VA | $36,930 | 60 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $36,370 | 40 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $35,430 | 80 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $34,430 | $16.55 |
| Food Batchmaker | $41,080 | $19.75 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $37,430 | $18.00 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $37,810 | $18.18 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $35,140 | $16.90 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $59,260 | $28.49 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,900 | $21.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,150 | $35.65 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $59,180 | $28.45 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,590 | $23.84 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Machinist | $61,290 | $29.47 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,340 | $18.44 |
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 Virginia?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in Virginia is $39,770 a year, or $19.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in Virginia?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in Virginia earn at least $55,810 a year. The top 25% earn $45,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,290 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $36,180 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in Virginia?
About 2,630 butchers and meat cutters are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.