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The average salary for a Meat Clerk in the United States is approximately $31,494 per year. This translates to about $15 per hour, although salaries can vary based on factors like location and experience. For example, meat clerks in California often earn more due to the higher cost of living and demand for skilled workers.
Regions like New York and Washington typically offer higher wages for meat clerks, reflecting local market conditions. Additionally, clerks with more experience or those working in larger grocery chains may see increased pay. To maximize earnings, consider pursuing specialized training or certifications related to food safety and handling.
Entry-level meat clerks can expect to start at around $28,000 annually, while those with several years of experience may earn significantly more, particularly in supervisory roles or those involving meat preparation. Overall, the meat clerk position remains a viable career option within the retail grocery sector, providing a path for growth and stability.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level meat clerk | $28,000 | $13.44 |
| Mid-level meat clerk | $32,300 | $15.51 |
| Senior-level meat clerk | $43,200 | $20.77 |
The highest-paying states for meat clerks are Washington, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The lowest average meat clerk salary states are Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $44,815 | $21.55 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $37,240 | $17.90 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $37,801 | $18.17 |
| 4 | Oregon | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $37,128 | $17.85 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $40,136 | $19.30 |
| 7 | Colorado | $36,289 | $17.45 |
| 8 | Michigan | $33,731 | $16.22 |
| 9 | Vermont | $36,064 | $17.34 |
| 10 | Idaho | $35,426 | $17.03 |
| 11 | Ohio | $33,424 | $16.07 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $38,809 | $18.66 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $37,001 | $17.79 |
| 14 | Maine | $37,099 | $17.84 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $33,805 | $16.25 |
| 16 | Utah | $32,576 | $15.66 |
| 17 | Virginia | $36,863 | $17.72 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $35,598 | $17.11 |
| 19 | Illinois | $34,430 | $16.55 |
| 20 | Maryland | $35,614 | $17.12 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $30,524 | $14.68 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $33,905 | $16.30 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $30,976 | $14.89 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $31,727 | $15.25 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $27,681 | $13.31 |
| 26 | Alaska | $28,319 | $13.61 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $28,685 | $13.79 |
| 28 | Iowa | $28,795 | $13.84 |
| 29 | New York | $28,775 | $13.83 |
| 30 | Delaware | $28,122 | $13.52 |
| 31 | Montana | $31,641 | $15.21 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $27,966 | $13.45 |
| 33 | Indiana | $25,716 | $12.36 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $30,240 | $14.54 |
| 35 | California | $31,768 | $15.27 |
| 36 | Florida | $26,624 | $12.80 |
| 37 | Nevada | $28,552 | $13.73 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $26,511 | $12.75 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $26,365 | $12.68 |
| 40 | Arizona | $28,340 | $13.63 |
| 41 | Alabama | $26,900 | $12.93 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $25,130 | $12.08 |
| 43 | Kansas | $26,856 | $12.91 |
| 44 | Missouri | $24,833 | $11.94 |
| 45 | Texas | $23,343 | $11.22 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $25,573 | $12.29 |
| 47 | District of Columbia | $28,225 | $13.57 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $24,295 | $11.68 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $23,208 | $11.16 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $22,741 | $10.93 |
| 51 | Georgia | $22,094 | $10.62 |
The highest-paying cities for meat clerks are Danvers, MA, Green Bay, WI, and Southington, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danvers, MA | $40,298 | $19.37 |
| 2 | Green Bay, WI | $38,539 | $18.53 |
| 3 | Southington, CT | $37,997 | $18.27 |
| 4 | Grand Forks, ND | $37,810 | $18.18 |
| 5 | Portland, ME | $37,121 | $17.85 |
| 6 | Savage, MN | $36,903 | $17.74 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $36,201 | $17.40 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $35,802 | $17.21 |
| 9 | Woodbridge, NJ | $33,988 | $16.34 |
| 10 | Novato, CA | $33,578 | $16.14 |
| 11 | Ann Arbor, MI | $33,506 | $16.11 |
| 12 | Cincinnati, OH | $31,523 | $15.16 |
| 13 | Rochester, NY | $29,956 | $14.40 |
| 14 | Avondale, AZ | $28,452 | $13.68 |
| 15 | Overland Park, KS | $26,887 | $12.93 |
| 16 | Carmel, IN | $25,604 | $12.31 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $23,500 | $11.30 |
A meat clerk's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $31,494 | $2,625 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of meat clerks are meat market manager, general merchandise clerk, and meat manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butcher | $32,047 | $2,671 | $15.41 | 6,871 |
| Meat Cutter Apprentice | $30,581 | $2,548 | $14.70 | 14,403 |
| General Merchandise Clerk | $34,415 | $2,868 | $16.55 | 137,799 |
| Courtesy Clerk | $28,657 | $2,388 | $13.78 | 118,514 |
| Deli/Bakery Clerk | $31,612 | $2,634 | $15.20 | 105,572 |
| Food Clerk | $29,967 | $2,497 | $14.41 | 113,838 |
Top companies hiring meat clerks now:
Meat clerk salaries at Conagra Brands and Bristol Farms are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average meat clerk salary at companies like Mollie Stone's Markets and Nugget Markets are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conagra Brands | $35,627 | $17.13 |
| 2 | Bristol Farms | $34,932 | $16.79 |
| 3 | Mollie Stone's Markets | $34,911 | $16.78 |
| 4 | Nugget Markets | $33,786 | $16.24 |
| 5 | Arden Group | $33,599 | $16.15 |
| 6 | Vallarta Supermarkets | $33,460 | $16.09 |
| 7 | Hy-Vee | $33,197 | $15.96 |
| 8 | United Natural Foods | $33,152 | $15.94 |
| 9 | ShopRite Supermarkets Inc. | $32,987 | $15.86 |
| 10 | Kroger | $32,693 | $15.72 |
| 11 | Raley's | $32,404 | $15.58 |
| 12 | Bashas' | $32,323 | $15.54 |
| 13 | Wegmans Food Markets | $31,998 | $15.38 |
| 14 | BJ's Wholesale Club | $31,904 | $15.34 |
| 15 | Roche Bros. Supermarkets | $31,873 | $15.32 |
| 16 | Meijer | $31,615 | $15.20 |
| 17 | Fresh Thyme | $31,224 | $15.01 |
| 18 | Sedano's Supermarkets | $31,101 | $14.95 |
| 19 | Festival Foods | $30,452 | $14.64 |
| 20 | Gerrity's Supermarket | $30,070 | $14.46 |
The average meat clerk salary has risen by $4,250 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average meat clerk earned $27,244 annually, but today, they earn $31,494 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for meat clerks over the last decade.
Compare meat clerk salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare meat clerk salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,500 | $15.14 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | $31,100 | $14.96 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $30,200 | $14.53 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $29,600 | $14.22 | +3.3% |
| 2021 | $28,600 | $13.75 | +2.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris Teeter, LLC | Meat Clerk | Alexandria, VA | 06/29/2025 | $28,905 |
| Winco Foods | Meat Clerk | Roseburg, OR | 06/29/2025 | $32,349 |
| Price Chopper | Meat Clerk/Stocking | Lebanon, NH | 06/28/2025 | $32,349 |
| BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. | Meat Clerk | Waltham, MA | 06/27/2025 | $34,957 |
| Coborn's | Meat Clerk | Fargo, ND | 06/27/2025 | $31,305 |
| Coborn's | Meat Clerk I | Houghton, MI | 06/27/2025 | $25,044 |
| Coborn's | Meat Clerk I | Saint Cloud, MN | 06/27/2025 | $27,131 |
| Coborn's | Meat Clerk I | Mitchell, SD | 06/27/2025 | $27,131 |
| Coborn's | Meat Clerk I | Hayward, WI | 06/27/2025 | $25,044 |
| Winco Foods | Meat Clerk | Oceanside, CA | 06/27/2025 | $34,957 |
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