Butchers and Meat Cutters Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $41,060 +5.4% vs national
Median hourly $19.74
10th percentile $35,940
90th percentile $58,920
Employed locally 160
National median $38,960

Compare Butchers and Meat Cutters salary & buying power

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Butchers and Meat Cutters
in
Santa Cruz, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,940
    25th
    $36,820
    50th (median)
    $41,060
    75th
    $49,350
    90th
    $58,920

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Butchers and Meat Cutters salary vs area income 38% Median Butchers and Meat Cutters salary is 62% 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
    Utica-Rome, NY $48,560
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $48,400
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $47,890
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $47,320
    El Centro, CA $47,240
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $46,680

    Related occupations in Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$45,660
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$41,750
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$70,680
    Bakers$38,330
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$50,570
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$48,830

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Butchers and Meat Cutters in Santa Cruz, CA is $19.74, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.19 or more per hour.

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

    The median Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 5.4% above 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 Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Butchers and Meat Cutters (10th percentile) earn around $35,940 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,820.