Butchers and Meat Cutters pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,350 or more. The middle half of butchers and meat cutters in Philadelphia earn between $34,970 and $55,640.
- $31K10th
- $35K25th
- $41KMedian
- $56K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,020 | $3,668 | $21.16 |
| Median | $40,810 | $3,401 | $19.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,970 | $2,914 | $16.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $55,640 | $4,637 | $26.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Butchers and Meat Cutters pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Butchers and meat cutters in Philadelphia earn 5% more than the Pennsylvania average ($41,780) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($42,380). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $40,140.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $44,020 | $40,810 | $30,700 | $59,350 | 1,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,780 | $38,340 | $29,000 | $58,130 | 3,540 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $44,020, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $36,199 a year, or $3,017 a month and $1,392 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NJ | $36,666 | $3,055 |
| Working in PA | $36,199 | $3,017 |
| Working in DE | $35,674 | $2,973 |
| Working in MD | $35,671 | $2,973 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for butchers and meat cutters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $44,020 buys what about $42,924 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 2nd of 13 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Allentown pays the most ($45,290).
- Allentown$45,290
- Philadelphia$44,020
- Harrisburg$42,470
- Pittsburgh$42,050
- York$41,860
- Scranton$41,260
- Reading$40,850
- Lancaster$40,690
- State College$39,280
- Erie$39,150
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do butchers and meat cutters make an hour in Philadelphia?
$21.16 an hour on average, and $19.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level butchers and meat cutters salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the butchers and meat cutters take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $36,199 a year ($3,017 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,020. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do butchers and meat cutters earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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