The average salary for a butcher in California is around $44,290 per year.
Avg Salary
Butchers earn an average yearly salary of $44,290.
Wages typically start from $35,470 and go up to $61,010.
42% below national average Updated in 2025
Butcher earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level butcher earnings begin at:
$29.33 per hour
$61,010 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level butcher earnings begin at:
$27.47 per hour
$57,140 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level butcher earnings begin at:
$21.29 per hour
$44,290 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level butcher earnings begin at:
$17.87 per hour
$37,160 per year
10th percentile
Starting level butcher earnings begin at:
$17.05 per hour
$35,470 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Butcher salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $51,670 |
| Alaska | $50,450 |
| Hawaii | $50,080 |
| Oregon | $49,360 |
| District of Columbia | $48,760 |
| Massachusetts | $48,430 |
| New Hampshire | $47,740 |
| Colorado | $47,490 |
| New York | $47,080 |
| Delaware | $47,040 |
| Wisconsin | $45,980 |
| Arizona | $45,780 |
| Vermont | $45,580 |
| Rhode Island | $45,210 |
| Wyoming | $44,820 |
| Connecticut | $44,570 |
| California | $44,290 |
| Maryland | $44,130 |
| Minnesota | $43,930 |
| Utah | $43,440 |
| Florida | $42,790 |
| Indiana | $42,440 |
| Montana | $41,600 |
| Nevada | $40,290 |
| North Dakota | $40,080 |
| Tennessee | $39,960 |
| South Carolina | $39,790 |
| Virginia | $39,770 |
| Michigan | $39,350 |
| Illinois | $39,240 |
| Georgia | $38,540 |
| New Jersey | $38,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,340 |
| Maine | $38,250 |
| North Carolina | $38,240 |
| Idaho | $38,030 |
| Missouri | $37,860 |
| Iowa | $37,750 |
| Nebraska | $37,630 |
| Ohio | $37,630 |
| Texas | $37,400 |
| Kansas | $37,320 |
| South Dakota | $37,310 |
| Louisiana | $36,790 |
| New Mexico | $36,640 |
| Alabama | $36,500 |
| Kentucky | $35,430 |
| Oklahoma | $35,070 |
| Arkansas | $34,380 |
| West Virginia | $33,570 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $31,610 |
| Mississippi | $29,700 |
| Guam | $22,310 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,270 |
How do butcher salaries compare to similar careers?
Butchers earn 20% less than similar careers in California. On average, they make less than food science technologists but more than bakers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Food science technologist salary | $94K |
| Restaurant manager salary | $78K |
| Culinary chef salary | $64K |
| Brewmaster salary | $53K |
| Dietetic technician salary | $46K |
| Butcher salary | $44K |
| Restaurant cook salary | $45K |
| Bartender salary | $36K |
| Food server salary | $36K |
| Baker salary | $43K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)