Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers Salary
The median pay for a meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Arizona is $48,550/year ($23.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $50,358 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,437/month, about 42.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Arizona?
About meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
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What this looks like in Arizona
Arizona sits well above the national pay line for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers, local pay runs about 27% higher than the U.S. median of $38K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,437/month, which is 43.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salary by metro in Arizona
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $49K | +0% | 550 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 43.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,191/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 66% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmer a high-paying job in Arizona?
Local pay is 27% above the national median — $49K here vs. $38K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers?
Arizona pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s +27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers make in Arizona?
The median is $48,550 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,510, and experienced meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers can clear $48,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,320/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 43.3% 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 meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (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 meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers salary is worth about $50,358 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers 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.