Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers Salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
The median pay for a meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Fort Smith, AR-OK is $36,160/year ($17.38/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $38K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.89), which stretches that salary to about $42,100 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $937/month — about 38% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Fort Smith?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fort Smith’s Regional Price Parity (85.89). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fort Smith, AR-OK
Entry-level meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $38K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $48K | +27% | 7,660 |
| Arizona | $47K | +25% | 730 |
| Kansas | $46K | +22% | 4,520 |
| North Dakota | $44K | +17% | N/A |
| Indiana | $44K | +16% | 2,030 |
| South Dakota | $43K | +14% | 2,040 |
| Utah | $43K | +13% | 1,400 |
| Iowa | $43K | +13% | 3,270 |
| Hawaii | $42K | +12% | 880 |
| Missouri | $42K | +12% | 3,900 |
| Minnesota | $40K | +6% | 3,390 |
| Washington | $40K | +5% | 3,570 |
| Michigan | $39K | +5% | 920 |
| Illinois | $39K | +5% | 4,310 |
| Florida | $39K | +4% | 1,870 |
| Maine | $39K | +4% | 560 |
| Wisconsin | $38K | +2% | 920 |
| Kentucky | $38K | +1% | 1,230 |
| Ohio | $38K | +1% | 3,320 |
| Georgia | $38K | +1% | 12,350 |
| Montana | $38K | +1% | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $38K | +1% | N/A |
| Tennessee | $37K | -1% | 2,670 |
| Vermont | $37K | -1% | 40 |
| Alaska | $37K | -2% | 1,220 |
| Nevada | $37K | -2% | 480 |
| New York | $37K | -2% | 2,510 |
| California | $37K | -2% | 7,740 |
| Massachusetts | $37K | -2% | 1,630 |
| North Carolina | $37K | -3% | 9,420 |
| New Jersey | $36K | -3% | 740 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -4% | 9,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $36K | -4% | 1,590 |
| Virginia | $35K | -6% | 2,440 |
| Rhode Island | $35K | -7% | 250 |
| Oregon | $35K | -7% | 610 |
| Oklahoma | $35K | -7% | 1,420 |
| Texas | $35K | -7% | 6,360 |
| Wyoming | $35K | -8% | 90 |
| Mississippi | $35K | -8% | 6,470 |
| Idaho | $34K | -9% | 360 |
| Delaware | $34K | -10% | 5,770 |
| South Carolina | $34K | -11% | 2,970 |
| West Virginia | $33K | -12% | 270 |
| Connecticut | $33K | -13% | 410 |
| Maryland | $31K | -17% | 860 |
| New Mexico | $30K | -20% | 170 |
| Alabama | $28K | -25% | 9,560 |
| Louisiana | $27K | -28% | 1,370 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Fort Smith numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median is $36,160 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,570, and experienced meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers can clear $37,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Fort Smith?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,488/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $937/month, which eats 37.7% 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 Fort Smith?
Fort Smith has a Regional Price Parity of 85.89 (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 $42,100 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.