Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers Salary
The median pay for a meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Arkansas is $37,980/year ($18.26/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $43,336 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 39.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in Arkansas?
About meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers pay in Arkansas tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,021/month, which is 39.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salary by metro in Arkansas
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $38K | +0% | 2,500 |
| Fort Smith | $37K | -1% | 2,080 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $33K | -12% | 280 |
Compare to other states
Track meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 39.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,008/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Arkansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers?
Arkansas pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers make in Arkansas?
The median is $37,980 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,470, and experienced meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers can clear $44,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,604/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 39.2% 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 meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 $43,336 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.