How much does a meat make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $18.41 an hour or $3,192 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.41
- Average (mean)
- $39,280
- Jobs
- 145,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,980 | $14.41 | |
| 25th | $35,350 | $17.00 | |
| Median | $38,300 | $18.41 | |
| 75th | $44,170 | $21.24 | |
| 90th | $48,150 | $23.15 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| 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 |
| Wisconsin | $43,300 |
| Iowa | $43,190 |
| Washington | $43,010 |
| Indiana | $42,450 |
| Missouri | $41,890 |
| Illinois | $40,690 |
| Hawaii | $40,260 |
| Vermont | $40,110 |
| Georgia | $39,330 |
| Idaho | $39,200 |
| Maine | $39,170 |
| North Carolina | $39,170 |
| Kentucky | $39,150 |
| Arkansas | $37,980 |
| Nevada | $37,920 |
| Mississippi | $37,890 |
| Rhode Island | $37,740 |
| Tennessee | $37,590 |
| Montana | $37,440 |
| New York | $37,330 |
| Alaska | $37,180 |
| Wyoming | $37,040 |
| Ohio | $37,020 |
| West Virginia | $36,870 |
| California | $36,570 |
| Massachusetts | $36,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,480 |
| Oklahoma | $36,300 |
| Virginia | $36,170 |
| Oregon | $36,060 |
| Texas | $35,890 |
| Delaware | $35,500 |
| New Jersey | $34,930 |
| South Carolina | $34,790 |
| Connecticut | $34,780 |
| Maryland | $32,950 |
| New Mexico | $31,240 |
| Florida | $31,160 |
| Alabama | $31,080 |
| Louisiana | $27,850 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Topeka, KS | $52,050 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $50,410 |
| Omaha, NE | $49,810 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $48,890 |
| Denver, CO | $48,880 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $48,550 |
| Sioux City, IA | $47,580 |
| Kansas City, MO | $45,820 |
| Portland, ME | $45,800 |
| Des Moines, IA | $45,750 |
| Akron, OH | $45,170 |
| Louisville, KY | $44,280 |
| Nashville, TN | $44,220 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $44,020 |
| Boise City, ID | $43,480 |
In other countries
Meat belongs to the international group "Butchers, fishmongers and related food preparers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Baker$37,160
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Slaughterer and Meat Packer$40,130
- Food and Tobacco Roasting$44,810
- Food Batchmaker$42,290
- Food Cooking Machine Operator and Tender$41,590
- Food Processing Worker$39,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a meat make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $18.41 ($38,300 a year).
How much does a meat make a month?
About $3,192 a month before tax, based on a median of $38,300 a year.
How much does a meat make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,980 or less a year ($14.41 an hour); the top 10% make $48,150 or more.
Which state pays meats the most?
Colorado, with a median of $50,390 a year, followed by Arizona ($48,550) and Kansas ($48,080).
Which city pays meats the most?
Topeka, KS, with a median of $52,050 a year.
How many meats are there in the United States?
About 145,700 people work as meats.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.