Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers Salary
The median pay for a meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Iowa is $43,190/year ($20.76/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $48,605 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 36.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $43K get you in Iowa?
About meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Iowa sits well above the national pay line for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers, local pay runs about 13% 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 $1,064/month, which is 36.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $7K spread from bottom to top.
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salary by metro in Iowa
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City | $48K | +10% | 1,700 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $46K | +6% | 180 |
| Cedar Rapids | $29K | -32% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 36.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,350/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Iowa?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $43K here vs. $38K nationally.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers?
Iowa pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers make in Iowa?
The median is $43,190 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,170, and experienced meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers can clear $46,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,892/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 36.8% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $48,605 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.