Butchers and Meat Cutters pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,270 or more. The middle half of butchers and meat cutters in Chattanooga earn between $33,720 and $44,020.
- $25K10th
- $34K25th
- $41KMedian
- $44K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,690 | $3,224 | $18.60 |
| Median | $40,580 | $3,382 | $19.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,720 | $2,810 | $16.21 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,020 | $3,668 | $21.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Butchers and Meat Cutters pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Butchers and meat cutters in Chattanooga earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($39,550) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($42,380). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $40,140.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $38,690 | $40,580 | $24,870 | $47,270 | 220 |
| Tennessee | $39,550 | $39,960 | $26,520 | $47,710 | 2,650 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $38,690, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $33,267 a year, or $2,772 a month and $1,280 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $33,267 | $2,772 |
| Working in GA | $32,085 | $2,674 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for butchers and meat cutters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $38,690 buys what about $42,301 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 8.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 5th of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($43,810).
- Nashville$43,810
- Memphis$39,120
- Clarksville$39,020
- Knoxville$38,800
- Chattanooga$38,690
- Morristown$37,500
- Johnson City$36,250
- Jackson$35,450
- Kingsport$35,260
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do butchers and meat cutters make an hour in Chattanooga?
$18.60 an hour on average, and $19.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level butchers and meat cutters salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the butchers and meat cutters take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $33,267 a year ($2,772 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,690. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do butchers and meat cutters earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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