Meat salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A meat earns a median of $38,300 a year ($18.41 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $39,280. About 145,700 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $38,300
- Gross pay
- $1,473.08
- Federal income tax
- −$92.92
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$91.33
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$21.36
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,267.46
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $38,300
- Federal
- $2,416
- FICA
- $2,930
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $32,954
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Meat salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $50,390 | $51,350 | 2,470 |
| Arizona | $48,550 | $46,360 | 620 |
| Kansas | $48,080 | $46,990 | 5,000 |
| Nebraska | $47,580 | $48,810 | 8,340 |
| New Hampshire | $47,260 | $44,970 | — |
| North Dakota | $47,250 | $43,090 | 390 |
| Michigan | $44,430 | $42,610 | 920 |
| South Dakota | $44,290 | $44,140 | 2,080 |
| Utah | $44,150 | $43,370 | 1,080 |
| Minnesota | $43,400 | $41,980 | 3,790 |
| Wisconsin | $43,300 | $41,870 | 2,040 |
| Iowa | $43,190 | $42,560 | 3,970 |
| Washington | $43,010 | $43,410 | 3,630 |
| Indiana | $42,450 | $41,530 | 2,640 |
| Missouri | $41,890 | $41,410 | 2,880 |
| Illinois | $40,690 | $41,440 | 4,040 |
| Hawaii | $40,260 | $41,920 | 800 |
| Vermont | $40,110 | $43,240 | 40 |
| Georgia | $39,330 | $38,670 | 11,480 |
| Idaho | $39,200 | $38,780 | 280 |
| Maine | $39,170 | $42,600 | 660 |
| North Carolina | $39,170 | $37,630 | 9,750 |
| Kentucky | $39,150 | $40,110 | 1,450 |
| Arkansas | $37,980 | $38,360 | 9,030 |
| Nevada | $37,920 | $40,810 | 360 |
| Mississippi | $37,890 | $36,390 | 6,470 |
| Rhode Island | $37,740 | $39,610 | 320 |
| Tennessee | $37,590 | $36,670 | 2,970 |
| Montana | $37,440 | $38,660 | 60 |
| New York | $37,330 | $40,450 | 2,420 |
| Alaska | $37,180 | $38,020 | 970 |
| Wyoming | $37,040 | $37,670 | 70 |
| Ohio | $37,020 | $38,390 | 3,540 |
| West Virginia | $36,870 | $40,480 | 220 |
| California | $36,570 | $38,930 | 9,270 |
| Massachusetts | $36,570 | $38,570 | 2,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,480 | $37,020 | 1,600 |
| Oklahoma | $36,300 | $39,380 | 1,530 |
| Virginia | $36,170 | $35,460 | 2,740 |
| Oregon | $36,060 | $37,810 | 910 |
| Texas | $35,890 | $35,540 | 8,590 |
| Delaware | $35,500 | $35,740 | 5,430 |
| New Jersey | $34,930 | $37,760 | — |
| South Carolina | $34,790 | $35,780 | 2,750 |
| Connecticut | $34,780 | $37,180 | — |
| Maryland | $32,950 | $35,770 | 680 |
| New Mexico | $31,240 | $34,050 | 240 |
| Florida | $31,160 | $34,740 | 2,310 |
| Alabama | $31,080 | $31,840 | 9,140 |
| Louisiana | $27,850 | $29,410 | 1,690 |
Similar jobs
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender: $38,180
- Cutter and Trimmer: $38,020
- Textile Winding: $38,670
- Textile Cutting Machine Setter: $38,760
- Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer: $37,800
- Helpers--Production Worker: $39,070
- Textile: $37,280
- Baker: $37,160
BLS occupation: Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 51-3022). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a meat make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $18.41; the average is $18.89.
Which state pays meat the most?
Colorado ($50,390 median), followed by Arizona and Kansas.
What is the salary range for a meat?
The bottom 10% earn under $29,980 and the top 10% earn over $48,150 a year.
How much is $38,300 after taxes?
About $32,954 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $31,941 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.