Salary
Average Salary: $28,660
Expected Lifetime Earnings: $1,196,498
If you're in this for the big bucks, you're going to be mighty disappointed. With a median salary of $28,600 (source), you'll definitely need to have mastered another skill if you hope to make ends meat: the art of frugal living. Whether you're working in a meat processing plant or running the counter at your local deli, the average income tends to look the same.
The good news is that a butcher's salary typically caps at a sweet $50,000 (source). If you can tough it out through the lean years, you'll be in fine shape. Those steak dinners you'll be buying yourself will taste extra good after years of ramen—plus, you'll be able to identify a good steak cut, so you'll know that you're only buying the best.
Pay varies a bit by state, so there's a chance that you can bring home more bacon if you relocate. For example, in Connecticut, a butcher makes an annual salary of $42,290 (source). Of course, Connecticut can be very expensive, so you might not end up seeing more cash after you've paid those bills. You'll need to do the math and figure out if the move is worth it.