The 10 States With The Highest Butcher Salaries For 2026

In today’s job market, salary remains a top priority for many job seekers, particularly in skilled trades like butchery. Understanding what butchers earn in your state can significantly influence your career decisions.

Factors such as local demand, experience, and the cost of living all play crucial roles in determining individual salaries. However, comprehensive data on average salaries for butchers across the United States, categorized by state and experience level, provides valuable insight. Even though your specific city might differ from state averages, these statistics offer a good benchmark for salary expectations.

As of 2026, the state offering the highest average salary for butchers is Washington.

Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for butcher salaries:

To provide a clearer picture of how butcher salaries vary across the nation, we analyzed the most up-to-date data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on average pay for butchers by state.

We also adjusted these salaries based on the cost of living in each state, as your income can stretch further in North Carolina compared to California.

Let’s dive deeper into our findings and present a complete ranking of all states.

How We Determined Butcher Pay By State

As previously mentioned, we sourced the average annual salary data for butchers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, specifically their ‘Occupational Employment Statistics.’

To ensure a fair comparison of salaries across states, we considered the cost of living in each location.

We established an index by dividing the average wage for a state by the average cost of living index. For instance, California has a cost of living index of 135.9 and an average pay of $38,360. The resulting index value would be:

$38,360 * (100 / 135.9) = $28,226

States were then ranked based on this index, with the highest index value representing the best average salary for butchers.

Here’s the full ranking of butcher salaries by state:

Detailed List Of Butcher Salaries By State

Rank	State	Adjusted Salary	Average Wage	Cost Of Living
1	Washington	$40,712	$42,830	105.2
2	Delaware	$40,473	$41,040	101.4
3	Nebraska	$39,628	$36,300	91.6
4	Tennessee	$39,619	$35,420	89.4
5	Utah	$39,516	$36,750	93.0
6	Wyoming	$39,357	$36,130	91.8
7	Kansas	$38,954	$35,020	89.9
8	Minnesota	$38,710	$39,020	100.8
9	Missouri	$38,196	$34,530	90.4
10	North Carolina	$38,168	$35,840	93.9
11	Idaho	$38,002	$35,000	92.1
12	Michigan	$37,685	$33,540	89.0
13	North Dakota	$37,625	$37,400	99.4
14	New Hampshire	$37,470	$43,840	117.0
15	Massachusetts	$37,121	$49,520	133.4
16	Colorado	$37,052	$38,460	103.8
17	Florida	$36,805	$36,180	98.3
18	Nevada	$36,786	$38,000	103.3
19	Wisconsin	$36,394	$35,230	96.8
20	Alaska	$36,369	$47,680	131.1
21	Arizona	$36,224	$35,500	98.0
22	Pennsylvania	$36,045	$36,550	101.4
23	Illinois	$35,961	$34,020	94.6
24	Montana	$35,783	$36,070	100.8
25	Virginia	$35,267	$35,550	100.8
26	Texas	$35,093	$31,830	90.7
27	Indiana	$35,016	$31,340	89.5
28	Arkansas	$34,902	$30,400	87.1
29	Oregon	$34,801	$40,230	115.6
30	New Mexico	$34,787	$33,570	96.5
31	New Jersey	$34,520	$42,080	121.9
32	Kentucky	$34,220	$30,970	90.5
33	South Carolina	$34,072	$33,800	99.2
34	Ohio	$33,933	$31,830	93.8
35	Georgia	$33,577	$30,690	91.4
36	Maine	$33,429	$37,040	110.8
37	Oklahoma	$33,161	$29,580	89.2
38	Iowa	$32,956	$29,990	91.0
39	Alabama	$32,774	$29,890	91.2
40	Connecticut	$32,357	$41,320	127.7
41	Maryland	$32,278	$40,510	125.5
42	Mississippi	$32,176	$27,640	85.9
43	South Dakota	$31,571	$32,740	103.7
44	New York	$30,458	$39,900	131.0
45	Louisiana	$30,411	$28,830	94.8
46	Vermont	$29,719	$35,990	121.1
47	West Virginia	$29,229	$27,300	93.4
48	Rhode Island	$28,724	$34,670	120.7
49	California	$28,226	$38,360	135.9
50	Hawaii	$27,307	$45,850	167.9

In conclusion, as the demand for skilled butchers continues to rise, understanding salary trends across different states can aid in making informed career choices. Whether you’re entering the field or considering relocation for better opportunities, this data serves as a useful guide for navigating your career in butchery.

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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