Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers Salary
The median pay for a meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in South Dakota is $44,290/year ($21.29/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $49,271 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 31.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Dakota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $44K get you in South Dakota?
About meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
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What this looks like in South Dakota
South Dakota sits well above the national pay line for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $38K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, South Dakota
Entry-level meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 32.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/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 South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,144/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 South Dakota?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $44K here vs. $38K nationally.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers?
South Dakota pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers make in South Dakota?
The median is $44,290 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,730, and experienced meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers can clear $48,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,136/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 32.4% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $49,271 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.