SOC 51-3021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Butchers and Meat Cutters — San Jose
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Butchers and Meat Cutters in San Jose, CA is $49,610 per year, 23.6% above the national median of $40,140.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Butchers and Meat Cutters in San Jose, CA is $49,610 per year, 23.6% above the national median of $40,140. Half of workers earn between $43,470 and $61,750. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $40,860 and the ninetieth at $71,740.
Employment stands at 790, or 0.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, El Centro records the highest median at $51,960. Of the 574 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 492nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,860 | +1.8% |
| 25th | $43,470 | +8.3% |
| Median (50th) | $49,610 | +23.6% |
| 75th | $61,750 | +53.8% |
| 90th | $71,740 | +78.7% |
| Mean | $53,790 | +34.0% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Centro | $51,960 | 70 | |
| 2 | Napa | $48,030 | 100 | |
| 3 | Sacramento | $47,820 | 940 | |
| 4 | Santa Rosa | $47,600 | 390 | |
| 5 | San Diego | $46,790 | 1,390 | |
| 6 | San Francisco | $46,490 | 2,720 | |
| 7 | Stockton | $46,000 | 360 | |
| 8 | Oxnard | $45,890 | 310 | |
| 9 | Vallejo | $45,620 | 190 | |
| 10 | Riverside | $44,870 | 1,720 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Jose run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $49,610 buys what $44,815 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 11.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,610as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$44,815US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,610 a year, 23.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,860 to $71,740 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 790 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is El Centro, at $51,960.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Butchers and Meat Cutters in San Jose, CA?
The median annual wage is $49,610, or $23.85 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $40,140, so pay in San Jose, CA is 23.6% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in San Jose, CA earns more than $71,740 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,860 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in El Centro, at $51,960 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 790 jobs in this occupation in San Jose, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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