Butchers and Meat Cutters Salary in Ames, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Ames, IA

Median annual salary $35,280 -9.4% vs national
Median hourly $16.96
10th percentile $31,050
90th percentile $43,450
Employed locally 150
National median $38,960

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Butchers and Meat Cutters
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Ames, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,050
    25th
    $31,950
    50th (median)
    $35,280
    75th
    $40,090
    90th
    $43,450

    Ames economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,090 2023 • Census ACS
    Butchers and Meat Cutters salary vs area income 50% Median Butchers and Meat Cutters salary is 50% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Butchers and Meat Cutters

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $57,870
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $55,180
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $55,170
    Fairbanks-College, AK $53,480
    Hawaii $50,220
    Urban Honolulu, HI $50,220

    Nearby metros — Butchers and Meat Cutters salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $47,890
    District of Columbia $47,880
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $46,370
    Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL $46,310
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $46,030
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $44,850

    Related occupations in Ames, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $47,250
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $47,630
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $67,220
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $49,310
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $59,950
    Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $48,150

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Butchers and Meat Cutters make per hour in Ames?

    The median hourly wage for Butchers and Meat Cutters in Ames, IA is $16.96, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.65 or more per hour.

    Is Ames above or below average for Butchers and Meat Cutters salaries?

    The median Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Ames, IA is 9.4% below the national median of $38,960. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Butchers and Meat Cutters in Ames?

    Entry-level Butchers and Meat Cutters (10th percentile) earn around $31,050 per year in Ames, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,950.