SOC 51-3022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers — Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared
At $37,550, median pay for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers in Santa Cruz, CA tracks the national median of $38,300 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $37,550, median pay for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers in Santa Cruz, CA tracks the national median of $38,300 closely. Pay ranges from under $35,670 at the tenth percentile to more than $57,760 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,040 to $38,150.
Employment stands at 40, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $42,750. Of the 328 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 314th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,670 | −6.9% |
| 25th | $36,040 | −5.9% |
| Median (50th) | $37,550 | −2.0% |
| 75th | $38,150 | −0.4% |
| 90th | $57,760 | +50.8% |
| Mean | $40,170 | +4.9% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $42,750 | 260 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $39,930 | 610 | |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $38,750 | 140 | |
| 4 | Vallejo | $38,660 | 50 | |
| 5 | San Luis Obispo | $38,170 | 50 | |
| 6 | Sacramento | $38,020 | 400 | |
| 7 | Hanford | $37,950 | 50 | |
| 8 | Salinas | $37,630 | 50 | |
| 9 | San Diego | $37,260 | 350 | |
| 10 | Los Angeles | $36,540 | 4,340 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $37,550 buys what $33,921 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 11.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$37,550as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,921US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $37,550 a year, 2.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,670 to $57,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $42,750.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median annual wage is $37,550, or $18.05 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 Santa Cruz, CA is 2.0% 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 Santa Cruz, CA earns more than $57,760 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,670 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 San Jose, at $42,750 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 jobs in this occupation in Santa Cruz, 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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