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Meat department associate salary
Average meat department associate salary
$12.96
Average Meat Department Associate Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Meat Department Associate is approximately $26,955 annually, or about $13 per hour. These figures can fluctuate based on various factors, including geographical location and experience level.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level associates typically start at lower salaries, while those with more experience can earn upwards of $30,000 annually. This growth reflects the increasing responsibilities and skills acquired over time.
Where Can You Earn More?
States like California and New York offer higher salaries for Meat Department Associates due to the cost of living and demand for skilled workers. Additionally, metropolitan areas often present better compensation opportunities.
Job Opportunities
Working as a Meat Department Associate can lead to various career paths, including supervisory roles or positions in food safety and quality assurance. Many associates use this experience as a stepping stone into broader roles within the grocery or food service industries.
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Where can a Meat Department Associate earn more?
Meat department associate salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level meat department associate | $23,900 | $11.51 |
| Mid-level meat department associate | $27,600 | $13.27 |
| Senior-level meat department associate | $37,000 | $17.77 |
Average meat department associate salary by state
The average meat department associate salary in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average meat department associate salary states are Louisiana, Texas, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for meat department associates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $45,159 | $21.71 |
| 2 | Maine | $39,453 | $18.97 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $39,356 | $18.92 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $43,839 | $21.08 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $47,132 | $22.66 |
| 6 | Florida | $35,854 | $17.24 |
| 7 | New York | $34,537 | $16.60 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $36,432 | $17.52 |
| 9 | Vermont | $38,111 | $18.32 |
| 10 | Maryland | $35,778 | $17.20 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $42,817 | $20.59 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $29,184 | $14.03 |
| 13 | Ohio | $29,332 | $14.10 |
| 14 | Michigan | $26,730 | $12.85 |
| 15 | Delaware | $30,309 | $14.57 |
| 16 | Virginia | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| 17 | Georgia | $28,534 | $13.72 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $24,706 | $11.88 |
| 19 | Illinois | $28,327 | $13.62 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $27,712 | $13.32 |
| 21 | Washington | $28,475 | $13.69 |
| 22 | Arizona | $25,549 | $12.28 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $28,246 | $13.58 |
| 24 | Colorado | $26,939 | $12.95 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $28,889 | $13.89 |
| 26 | California | $27,620 | $13.28 |
| 27 | Alaska | $26,018 | $12.51 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $25,934 | $12.47 |
| 29 | Iowa | $23,645 | $11.37 |
| 30 | Alabama | $25,926 | $12.46 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $25,273 | $12.15 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $24,118 | $11.60 |
| 33 | Nevada | $23,771 | $11.43 |
| 34 | Montana | $22,342 | $10.74 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $27,306 | $13.13 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $24,179 | $11.62 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $23,923 | $11.50 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $23,564 | $11.33 |
| 39 | Indiana | $22,091 | $10.62 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $23,529 | $11.31 |
| 41 | Oregon | $24,643 | $11.85 |
| 42 | Utah | $23,253 | $11.18 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $21,989 | $10.57 |
| 44 | Kansas | $23,341 | $11.22 |
| 45 | District of Columbia | $27,722 | $13.33 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $22,619 | $10.87 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $21,334 | $10.26 |
| 48 | Missouri | $21,829 | $10.49 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $21,889 | $10.52 |
| 50 | Texas | $21,930 | $10.54 |
| 51 | Idaho | $21,678 | $10.42 |
Highest paying cities for meat department associates
The highest-paying cities for meat department associates are Leesburg, VA, Gainesville, FL, and Troy, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leesburg, VA | $37,999 | $18.27 |
| 2 | Gainesville, FL | $35,975 | $17.30 |
| 3 | Troy, NY | $35,312 | $16.98 |
| 4 | Lawrenceville, GA | $28,616 | $13.76 |
| 5 | Federal Way, WA | $28,509 | $13.71 |
| 6 | Brentwood, CA | $28,039 | $13.48 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $27,806 | $13.37 |
| 8 | Clinton, MI | $27,395 | $13.17 |
| 9 | Thornton, CO | $26,982 | $12.97 |
| 10 | Juneau, AK | $26,102 | $12.55 |
| 11 | Knoxville, TN | $26,085 | $12.54 |
| 12 | Mesa, AZ | $25,527 | $12.27 |
| 13 | Columbia, SC | $25,309 | $12.17 |
| 14 | Bend, OR | $24,742 | $11.90 |
| 15 | Casper, WY | $24,733 | $11.89 |
| 16 | Greenville, NC | $24,464 | $11.76 |
| 17 | Coon Rapids, MN | $24,243 | $11.66 |
| 18 | Reno, NV | $23,990 | $11.53 |
| 19 | Midvale, UT | $23,305 | $11.20 |
| 20 | Bozeman, MT | $22,397 | $10.77 |
Meat department associate salary details
A meat department associate's salary ranges from $13,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $55,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a meat department associate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| Average | $26,955 | $2,246 | $13 |
| 25th Percentile | $18,000 | $1,500 | $9 |
| 10th Percentile | $13,000 | $1,083 | $6 |
Highest paying meat department associate jobs
The highest paying types of meat department associates are associate, assistant department head, and department specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Clerk | $29,967 | $2,497 | $14.41 | 113,838 |
| Butcher | $32,047 | $2,671 | $15.41 | 6,871 |
| Support Team Member | $29,399 | $2,450 | $14.13 | 221,327 |
| Meat Wrapper | $30,975 | $2,581 | $14.89 | 8,296 |
| Meat Manager | $34,212 | $2,851 | $16.45 | 8,254 |
| Meat Clerk | $31,494 | $2,625 | $15.14 | 73,741 |
Top companies hiring meat department associates now:
Which companies pay meat department associates the most?
Meat department associate salaries at Linklaters and Cadwalader are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average meat department associate salary at companies like Davis Polk & Wardwell and Deloitte are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linklaters | $226,984 | $109.13 |
| 2 | Cadwalader | $162,183 | $77.97 |
| 3 | Davis Polk & Wardwell | $98,412 | $47.31 |
| 4 | Deloitte | $93,820 | $45.11 |
| 5 | Choate, Hall & Stewart | $84,609 | $40.68 |
| 6 | Morgan Stanley | $70,360 | $33.83 |
| 7 | Emory University | $40,827 | $19.63 |
| 8 | Amazon | $33,298 | $16.01 |
| 9 | Heinen's Grocery Store | $32,901 | $15.82 |
| 10 | TerraCycle | $32,491 | $15.62 |
| 11 | ING Financial Holdings Corporation | $32,116 | $15.44 |
| 12 | Price Chopper Supermarkets-Market 32 | $32,106 | $15.44 |
| 13 | P&S Surgical Hospital | $32,028 | $15.40 |
| 14 | University of Wisconsin Oshkosh | $31,896 | $15.33 |
| 15 | Dierbergs Markets | $31,781 | $15.28 |
| 16 | Sysco | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| 17 | Mount Sinai Health System | $31,474 | $15.13 |
| 18 | Ingles Markets | $31,466 | $15.13 |
| 19 | H-E-B | $31,416 | $15.10 |
| 20 | Hannaford Supermarkets | $31,326 | $15.06 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Meat department associate salary trends
The average meat department associate salary has risen by $3,638 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average meat department associate earned $23,317 annually, but today, they earn $26,955 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for meat department associates over the last decade.
Compare meat department associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average meat department associate salary over time
Compare meat department associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Meat department associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $27,000 | $12.96 | +1.2% |
| 2025 | $26,600 | $12.80 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $25,900 | $12.44 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $25,300 | $12.17 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $24,500 | $11.77 | +2.5% |
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