Butchers and Meat Cutters Salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
In San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, butchers and meat cutters earn $47,890 at the median, or about $23.02 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $43,371 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,483/month — about 105.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $48K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara’s Regional Price Parity (110.42). 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level butchers and meat cutters (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $30K 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
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Frequently asked questions
How much do butchers and meat cutters make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $47,890 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,590, and experienced butchers and meat cutters can clear $69,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,280/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month, which eats 106.2% 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median butchers and meat cutters salary is worth about $43,371 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.