Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Washington
Butchers and Meat Cutters in Washington earn a median of $51,670 a year ($24.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,660 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,440 for the top 10%. That is 29% higher than the national median of $40,140. Washington ranks 1st of 51 states for butchers and meat cutters pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.75 butchers and meat cutters per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $52,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,560 | $18.06 |
| 25th percentile | $45,230 | $21.74 |
| Median | $51,670 | $24.84 |
| 75th percentile | $60,920 | $29.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,440 | $30.50 |
| Average (mean) | $52,570 | $25.28 |
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 | $4,305.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,152.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,987.31 |
| Weekly | $993.65 |
| Hourly | $24.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $60,600 | 1,300 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $57,930 | 100 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $53,550 | 40 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $51,980 | 840 |
| Bellingham, WA | $50,970 | 90 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $50,720 | 60 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $49,790 | 110 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $49,320 | 220 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $48,700 | 40 |
| Yakima, WA | $47,540 | 100 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $44,450 | 110 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $40,440 | 40 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $46,140 | $22.18 |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,710 | $20.53 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $43,010 | $20.68 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $43,980 | $21.15 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $45,100 | $21.68 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $51,100 | $24.57 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,310 | $38.13 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,700 | $20.05 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $63,020 | $30.30 |
| Machinist | $66,160 | $31.81 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $52,480 | $25.23 |
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 Washington?
The median salary for butchers and meat cutters in Washington is $51,670 a year, or $24.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid butchers and meat cutters make in Washington?
The top 10% of butchers and meat cutters in Washington earn at least $63,440 a year. The top 25% earn $60,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for butchers and meat cutters in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,560 a year, and a quarter of butchers and meat cutters earn $45,230 or less.
How many butchers and meat cutters work in Washington?
About 2,660 butchers and meat cutters are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.