Butchers and Meat Cutters pay range in Fargo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,330 or more. The middle half of butchers and meat cutters in Fargo earn between $40,810 and $47,860.
- $35K10th
- $41K25th
- $46KMedian
- $48K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,090 | $3,758 | $21.68 |
| Median | $45,640 | $3,803 | $21.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,810 | $3,401 | $19.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,860 | $3,988 | $23.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Butchers and Meat Cutters pay in Fargo vs. North Dakota and the U.S.
Butchers and meat cutters in Fargo earn 10% more than the North Dakota average ($40,850) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($42,380). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $40,140.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $45,090 | $45,640 | $34,580 | $61,330 | 120 |
| North Dakota | $40,850 | $40,080 | $22,390 | $57,160 | 470 |
| 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 Fargo
On the average salary of $45,090, a single filer in Fargo takes home about $38,410 a year, or $3,201 a month and $1,477 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
The Fargo, ND-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in ND | $38,410 | $3,201 |
| Working in MN | $36,816 | $3,068 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Fargo a good place for butchers and meat cutters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fargo area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.9), so the average $45,090 buys what about $49,620 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Fargo ($51,050). A typical home costs $327,854, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in other North Dakota cities
Fargo ranks 1st of 3 North Dakota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Fargo$45,090
- Grand Forks$41,420
- Bismarck$39,780
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 Fargo: questions
How much do butchers and meat cutters make an hour in Fargo?
$21.68 an hour on average, and $21.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level butchers and meat cutters salary in Fargo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the butchers and meat cutters take-home pay in Fargo?
About $38,410 a year ($3,201 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,090.
Do butchers and meat cutters earn more in Fargo than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Fargo, ND-MN (22020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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