Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers pay in the United States

In the U.S., the median pay for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers is $18.41 an hour ($38,300 a year). About 145,700 people work in this job there.

$18.41Median hourly pay
$35,350–$44,170Middle half of workers, yearly
145,700People in this job in the U.S.

Pay range for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in the U.S.

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$14.42$29,980
25% of workers$17.00$35,350
Half of workers (median)$18.41$38,300
75% of workers$21.24$44,170
90% of workers$23.15$48,150

Best-paying states for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers

StateMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Colorado$50,3902,470
Arizona$48,550620
Kansas$48,0805,000
Nebraska$47,5808,340
New Hampshire$47,2600
North Dakota$47,250390
Michigan$44,430920
South Dakota$44,2902,080
Utah$44,1501,080
Minnesota$43,4003,790

Pay by state

Education, experience and outlook for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers

  • Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
  • Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: +5.7% over ten years, faster than average · about 17,000 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in the U.S.

JobMedian yearly pay
Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,280
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
Food Batchmakers$42,290
Butchers and Meat Cutters$40,140
Slaughterers and Meat Packers$40,130
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,570
Machine Feeders and Offbearers$41,220
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$36,670

Other job titles for this job

TrimmerChicken DresserPoultry DresserPoultrymanSkinnerJourneyman Meat CutterMeat CutterMeat Team MemberMeatcutterAnimal EvisceratorAnimal SkinnerAnimal Sticker

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.