Butchers and Meat Cutters Salary in Columbia, SC
In Columbia, SC, butchers and meat cutters earn $40,820 at the median — $19.62 an hour. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $43,583 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,276/month — about 45.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $41K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (93.66). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About butchers and meat cutters
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level butchers and meat cutters (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Butchers and Meat Cutters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $50K | +29% | 580 |
| Massachusetts | $48K | +24% | 1,790 |
| Alaska | $48K | +24% | 260 |
| Washington | $48K | +24% | 2,710 |
| District of Columbia | $48K | +23% | 160 |
| Oregon | $47K | +21% | 1,490 |
| Delaware | $47K | +21% | 230 |
| New Hampshire | $47K | +20% | 500 |
| New York | $46K | +19% | 4,800 |
| Maine | $45K | +17% | 560 |
| Minnesota | $44K | +14% | 2,160 |
| California | $44K | +14% | 21,220 |
| Rhode Island | $44K | +12% | 370 |
| Wyoming | $44K | +12% | 150 |
| Utah | $42K | +7% | 1,380 |
| Wisconsin | $41K | +6% | 3,320 |
| Maryland | $41K | +5% | 1,240 |
| Vermont | $41K | +5% | 390 |
| Montana | $41K | +5% | 780 |
| Connecticut | $40K | +2% | 1,020 |
| South Carolina | $40K | +2% | 2,030 |
| Florida | $39K | +1% | 11,330 |
| North Dakota | $39K | +1% | 590 |
| Virginia | $39K | +1% | 2,120 |
| Arizona | $39K | +1% | 2,220 |
| New Jersey | $39K | -0% | 4,480 |
| Illinois | $39K | -1% | 9,000 |
| Idaho | $38K | -1% | 1,400 |
| Michigan | $38K | -2% | 4,330 |
| Tennessee | $38K | -3% | 2,280 |
| Nevada | $38K | -4% | 1,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $37K | -4% | 4,050 |
| Indiana | $37K | -4% | 2,470 |
| Texas | $37K | -5% | 10,490 |
| Georgia | $37K | -5% | 4,120 |
| North Carolina | $37K | -5% | 3,800 |
| Ohio | $37K | -5% | 5,590 |
| Nebraska | $37K | -6% | 1,530 |
| Iowa | $37K | -6% | 4,130 |
| Missouri | $36K | -6% | 2,150 |
| New Mexico | $36K | -7% | 940 |
| South Dakota | $36K | -8% | 620 |
| Kansas | $36K | -8% | 1,170 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -8% | 910 |
| Alabama | $35K | -10% | 2,350 |
| Oklahoma | $34K | -13% | 1,820 |
| Louisiana | $33K | -15% | 2,110 |
| Kentucky | $31K | -20% | 1,500 |
| West Virginia | $29K | -26% | 530 |
| Mississippi | $29K | -27% | 1,310 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track butchers and meat cutters salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do butchers and meat cutters make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $40,820 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,080, and experienced butchers and meat cutters can clear $49,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,821/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 45.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a butchers and meat cutters salary go in Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 93.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median butchers and meat cutters salary is worth about $43,583 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do butchers and meat cutters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.