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Salary comparison

Butchers and Meat Cutters vs. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators: Who Earns More?

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators out-earn Butchers and Meat Cutters by $5K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Butchers and Meat Cutters land at $40,140 and Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators at $44,650. The education gap is real: butchers and meat cutter programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while miscellaneous assemblers and fabricator programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Butchers and Meat Cutters is Washington ($51,670); for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators it's District of Columbia ($50,330).

Butchers and Meat Cutters
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
Median salary
$40,140
$44,650
Hourly rate
$19.3/hr
$21.47/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$29,460
$33,280
Senior level (90th %)
$58,110
$64,880
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
136,430
1,405,030
Job growth (10-year)
1%
-0.1%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Washington
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Butchers and Meat Cutters median pay.

State
Butchers and Meat Cutters
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
Washington
$51,670
$48,260
Alaska
$50,450
$49,390
Hawaii
$50,080
$49,630
Oregon
$49,360
$46,910
District of Columbia
$48,760
$50,330
Massachusetts
$48,430
$46,720
New Hampshire
$47,740
$46,940
Colorado
$47,490
$46,150
California
$44,290
$47,720
Minnesota
$43,930
$46,920
Nevada
$40,290
$49,050
North Dakota
$40,080
$47,250
Missouri
$37,860
$46,480
Iowa
$37,750
$48,920
Kentucky
$35,430
$47,950

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Butchers and Meat Cutters or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators?

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators earn more nationally. The median is $40,140 for Butchers and Meat Cutters versus $44,650 for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators, a difference of $5K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Butchers and Meat Cutters or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators?

Butchers and Meat Cutters has the better 10-year outlook at 1% projected growth, compared to -0.1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Butchers and Meat Cutters or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators?

Butchers and Meat Cutters typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Butchers and Meat Cutters get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Butchers and Meat Cutters at $51,670/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Butchers and Meat Cutters vs. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Butchers and Meat Cutters earn $51,670 vs. $48,260 for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Butchers and Meat Cutters salary breakdownView →Full Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators salary breakdownView →Best cities for Butchers and Meat Cutters by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators by take-home payExplore →How to become a butchers and meat cuttersGuide →How to become a miscellaneous assemblers and fabricatorsGuide →