SOC 51-3022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers — New Jersey
New Jersey · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in New Jersey is $34,930 a year, trailing the national median of $38,300 by 8.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in New Jersey is $34,930 a year, trailing the national median of $38,300 by 8.8%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $33,760 and $38,480. The lowest tenth earn under $32,220, while the highest tenth earn more than $51,110.
New Jersey ranks number 43rd out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Trenton records the highest median at $32,690. Of the 736 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 723rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,220 | −15.9% |
| 25th | $33,760 | −11.9% |
| Median (50th) | $34,930 | −8.8% |
| 75th | $38,480 | +0.5% |
| 90th | $51,110 | +33.4% |
| Mean | $37,760 | −1.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New Jersey
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton | $32,690 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Jersey run 8.8% above the national average, so the median of $34,930 buys what $32,105 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 16.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,930as reported by BLSLocal price level
108.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,105US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,930 a year, 8.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,220 to $51,110 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 43rd of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Trenton, at $32,690.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers in New Jersey?
The median annual wage is $34,930, or $16.79 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 $38,300, so pay in New Jersey is 8.8% lower. 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 New Jersey earns more than $51,110 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,220 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 Trenton, at $32,690 per year.
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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