Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
SOC 51-3022 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers is $36,300, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $36,840, and an estimated 138,300 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +20.2% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +2.1% after inflation. BLS projects employment will grow 5.5% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $36,300 | $36,300 | 138,300 |
| 2022 | $35,070 | $36,514 | 133,460 |
| 2021 | $29,730 | $33,431 | 132,100 |
| 2020 | $30,190 | $35,543 | 147,760 |
Nominal change
+20.2%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+2.1%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+5.5%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
146,800
Projected 2034
154,900
Annual Openings
18,400
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $36,300. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $58,140 | +60.2% | 50 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $48,150 | +32.6% | 620 |
| Arizona | $47,870 | +31.9% | 650 |
| Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $46,470 | +28% | 1,160 |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $46,060 | +26.9% | 170 |
| East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $45,760 | +26.1% | 680 |
| South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $45,520 | +25.4% | 1,210 |
| Nebraska | $44,160 | +21.7% | 6,620 |
| Kansas | $43,790 | +20.6% | 4,820 |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $43,790 | +20.6% | 4,240 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$28,700
25th Pct
$31,820
Median
$36,300
75th Pct
$40,670
90th Pct
$46,150
Related Occupations in Production
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.