Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers pay in California

In California, the median pay for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers is $17.58 an hour ($36,570 a year). About 9,270 people work in this job there.

$17.58Median hourly pay
$35,710–$40,210Middle half of workers, yearly
9,270People in this job in California

That is 5% lower than the U.S. median ($38,300). California ranks 36th of 50 states and territories for this job’s median pay.

Pay range for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in California

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$16.81$34,950
25% of workers$17.17$35,710
Half of workers (median)$17.58$36,570
75% of workers$19.33$40,210
90% of workers$22.13$46,040

Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers pay in California metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$42,750260
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$39,930610
Santa Rosa-Petaluma$38,750140
Vallejo$38,66050
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles$38,17050
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$38,020400
Hanford-Corcoran$37,95050
Salinas$37,63050
Santa Cruz-Watsonville$37,55040
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$37,260350
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$36,5404,340
Stockton-Lodi$36,290120
Modesto$36,270370
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$36,080900
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura$36,030160
Merced$35,070370
Bakersfield-Delano$34,98080

California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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 California

JobMedian yearly pay
Packers and Packagers, Hand$37,260
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$44,020
Butchers and Meat Cutters$44,290
Food Batchmakers$41,670
Slaughterers and Meat Packers$39,420
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products$36,330
Machine Feeders and Offbearers$40,380
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$38,640

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.