Prevailing Wage for Butchers and Meat Cutters
Prevailing wages for Butchers and Meat Cutters (SOC 51-3021) are set by DOL using Occupational Employment Statistics data collected at the regional level. Whether your offer is for a Butcher, Meat Cutter, or Meat Clerk role, DOL publishes four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on which U.S. city appears on the Labor Condition Application.
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Level 1 covers entry-level meat cutters with limited experience, typically performing routine tasks under close supervision. Workers at this level are still developing foundational skills in portioning, trimming, and case preparation, with no expectation of independent judgment on product selection or yield.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Butchers and Meat Cutters. It applies to qualified workers who handle a full range of cutting, trimming, and portioning tasks independently, with moderate experience and a working knowledge of meat grades, storage standards, and retail presentation.
Level 3 applies to experienced meat cutters who take on complex portioning work, may assist in training junior staff, and regularly exercise discretion over product quality and waste reduction. Employers sponsoring workers with several years of trade experience typically file at this level.
Level 4 covers fully competent butchers and meat specialists in senior or lead roles, often overseeing a department, managing case inventory, and setting production standards. Workers at this level bring a comprehensive command of all cutting techniques and may supervise other meat department staff.
Prevailing Wage for Butchers and Meat Cutters by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Butchers and Meat Cutters and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Know where grocery and warehouse retailers file
Large-format grocery chains and warehouse club retailers tend to file Butchers and Meat Cutters at Level 2, even for workers with substantial trade experience. Confirm the filing level on the certified LCA before accepting any sponsored offer to avoid leaving wages on the table.
Watch for alias titles filed under different SOC codes
Titles like Meat Specialist or Meat Wrapper sometimes get filed under food preparation or retail sales SOC codes, which carry lower prevailing wage floors than SOC 51-3021. Verify that your LCA references the correct Butchers and Meat Cutters classification before your employer submits.
Factor in Alaska and Hawaii premium markets
Fairbanks, Kahului, and Anchorage consistently post the highest prevailing wages for this occupation, often substantially above the national median at every level. If you are weighing multiple offers, the worksite city on the LCA directly determines which wage floor your employer must meet.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors in this trade
Migrate Mate lists which employers have sponsored Butchers and Meat Cutters in the past and shows their historical sponsorship counts. For a trade role with a concentrated employer base, that history helps you target companies that have navigated the LCA process for this occupation before.
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Find Jobs for Butchers and Meat CuttersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-3021.00 alongside Butchers and Meat Cutters, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Butcher Prevailing Wage
Butcher Prevailing Wage
Butcher positions fall under SOC 51-3021.00 (Butchers and Meat Cutters). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Meat Clerk Prevailing Wage
Meat Clerk Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Meat Clerk for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-3021.00 (Butchers and Meat Cutters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Meat Cutter Prevailing Wage
Meat Cutter Prevailing Wage
Meat Cutter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-3021.00 (Butchers and Meat Cutters). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Meat Specialist Prevailing Wage
Meat Specialist Prevailing Wage
Meat Specialist positions fall under SOC 51-3021.00 (Butchers and Meat Cutters). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Meat Wrapper Prevailing Wage
Meat Wrapper Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Meat Wrapper for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-3021.00 (Butchers and Meat Cutters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Butchers and Meat Cutters?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For each area, OFLC publishes four wage levels tied to the regional earnings distribution for SOC 51-3021. Employers filing a Labor Condition Application for a sponsored Butcher or Meat Cutter must pay at least the level that matches the worker's experience and the job's complexity.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to me?
The four levels reflect experience and job complexity. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is a qualified worker performing the full range of tasks independently; Level 3 is an experienced worker exercising discretion and sometimes training others; Level 4 is a fully competent senior or lead cutter overseeing the department. Your level is determined by the actual duties in the job description, not by your job title, and USCIS can scrutinize mismatches between the level filed and the work described.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Meat Cutter role vary so much by city?
OFLC bases each area's wage on regional OES survey data, so local labor market conditions drive the figures. Fairbanks and Honolulu metro wages reflect tighter labor supply and higher cost of living, while Puerto Rico metros sit well below the national median for the same SOC code. Critically, the worksite address on the certified LCA is what determines which area's floor applies, not where the employer is headquartered or where you live.
What happens if an employer offers a wage below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
DOL will not certify an LCA with a wage below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite area and experience level. Without a certified LCA, a sponsored H-1B or E-3 petition cannot be filed. If a wage violation is discovered after certification, DOL can assess back pay and bar the employer from future sponsorship. An offer below the floor is not simply a negotiating point; it is a legal compliance issue under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Butchers and Meat Cutters position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up the current four-level wages for SOC 51-3021 by state and metropolitan area. Enter the exact worksite metro, select the occupation, and confirm which level matches the job duties described in your offer. You can also cross-reference posted wages on employer LCA disclosure data published by OFLC. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored this occupation historically, helping you identify companies already familiar with the DOL filing process.
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