Butchers and Meat Cutters pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,360 or more. The middle half of butchers and meat cutters in Hickory earn between $36,090 and $47,340.
- $30K10th
- $36K25th
- $38KMedian
- $47K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,240 | $3,353 | $19.35 |
| Median | $38,370 | $3,198 | $18.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,090 | $3,008 | $17.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,340 | $3,945 | $22.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Butchers and Meat Cutters pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Butchers and meat cutters in Hickory earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($39,570) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($42,380). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $40,140.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $40,240 | $38,370 | $30,370 | $48,360 | 60 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $40,240, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $33,416 a year, or $2,785 a month and $1,285 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 Hickory a good place for butchers and meat cutters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $40,240 buys what about $45,476 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 8th 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 Hickory: questions
How much do butchers and meat cutters make an hour in Hickory?
$19.35 an hour on average, and $18.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level butchers and meat cutters salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the butchers and meat cutters take-home pay in Hickory?
About $33,416 a year ($2,785 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,240.
Do butchers and meat cutters earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 0.43, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.43).
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