Butchers and Meat Cutters pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $55,040 or more. The middle half of butchers and meat cutters in Durham earn between $34,850 and $47,330.
- $29K10th
- $35K25th
- $40KMedian
- $47K75th
- $55K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,540 | $3,462 | $19.97 |
| Median | $39,780 | $3,315 | $19.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,850 | $2,904 | $16.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,330 | $3,944 | $22.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Butchers and Meat Cutters pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Butchers and meat cutters in Durham earn 5% more than the North Carolina average ($39,570) and about the same as the U.S. average ($42,380). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $40,140.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $41,540 | $39,780 | $28,640 | $55,040 | 160 |
| North Carolina | $39,570 | $38,240 | $28,510 | $50,080 | 3,120 |
| United States | $42,380 | $40,140 | $29,460 | $58,110 | 136,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $41,540, a single filer in Durham takes home about $34,409 a year, or $2,867 a month and $1,323 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for butchers and meat cutters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $41,540 buys what about $42,574 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 10.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 3rd of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Jacksonville pays the most ($43,840).
- Jacksonville$43,840
- Wilmington$41,950
- Durham$41,540
- Raleigh$41,360
- Charlotte$40,740
- Asheville$40,570
- Fayetteville$40,410
- Hickory$40,240
- Greensboro$40,210
- Pinehurst$39,240
Highest-paying cities for butchers and meat cutters
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($62,010).
- Fairbanks, AK$62,010
- Seattle, WA$56,640
- Bremerton, WA$55,030
- Anchorage, AK$53,930
- San Jose, CA$53,790
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Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Durham: questions
How much do butchers and meat cutters make an hour in Durham?
$19.97 an hour on average, and $19.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level butchers and meat cutters salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the butchers and meat cutters take-home pay in Durham?
About $34,409 a year ($2,867 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,540.
Do butchers and meat cutters earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($42,380).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-3021; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
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