Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary in the U.S.
Slaughterers and Meat Packers in the U.S. earn a median of $40,130 a year ($19.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 69,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,090 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $41,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for slaughterers and meat packers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,340 | $16.03 |
| 25th percentile | $36,150 | $17.38 |
| Median | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| 75th percentile | $46,870 | $22.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,090 | $24.56 |
| Average (mean) | $41,770 | $20.08 |
Half of slaughterers and meat packers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,344.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,672.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,543.46 |
| Weekly | $771.73 |
| Hourly | $19.29 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $50,480 | 1,590 |
| Arizona | $49,020 | 440 |
| Nebraska | $48,910 | 5,480 |
| Kansas | $48,240 | 2,170 |
| Montana | $46,700 | 80 |
| South Carolina | $46,000 | 250 |
| Oregon | $45,980 | 360 |
| Oklahoma | $45,970 | 1,560 |
| Michigan | $45,850 | 2,920 |
| New Jersey | $45,230 | 1,050 |
| Washington | $45,100 | 840 |
| Illinois | $44,950 | 3,360 |
| Missouri | $44,490 | 1,280 |
| South Dakota | $44,410 | 740 |
| Utah | $44,040 | 560 |
| Iowa | $43,820 | 4,220 |
| Indiana | $43,770 | 1,210 |
| Minnesota | $43,360 | 2,820 |
| Texas | $43,160 | 2,950 |
| Vermont | $42,220 | 50 |
| Idaho | $40,370 | 450 |
| Louisiana | $40,120 | 650 |
| North Carolina | $39,930 | 6,120 |
| North Dakota | $39,730 | 160 |
| California | $39,420 | 6,170 |
| New Hampshire | $39,270 | 40 |
| Hawaii | $38,890 | 120 |
| Maine | $38,740 | 50 |
| Kentucky | $38,330 | 320 |
| Arkansas | $37,800 | 2,140 |
| Massachusetts | $37,780 | 170 |
| Maryland | $37,650 | 130 |
| Rhode Island | $37,570 | 280 |
| Wisconsin | $37,510 | 2,620 |
| Virginia | $37,430 | 1,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,330 | 4,410 |
| Ohio | $36,800 | 2,440 |
| Georgia | $36,770 | 3,660 |
| Alabama | $36,360 | 240 |
| Connecticut | $36,290 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $35,790 | 650 |
| Florida | $34,430 | 400 |
| New York | $33,880 | 1,750 |
| Mississippi | $33,650 | 1,100 |
| Delaware | $31,200 | 50 |
| New Mexico | $30,560 | n/a |
| Nevada | $30,430 | 140 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,710 | 290 |
Best-paying metro areas for slaughterers and meat packers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $52,180 | 40 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $49,600 | 1,120 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $49,460 | 50 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $48,120 | 430 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $48,030 | 110 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $46,990 | 210 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $46,670 | 100 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $46,390 | 1,330 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $46,380 | 200 |
| Columbia, SC | $46,170 | 150 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $45,300 | 140 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $45,220 | 60 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $45,090 | 50 |
| Madison, WI | $44,920 | 90 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $44,490 | 210 |
Metro areas with the most slaughterers and meat packers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | 2,690 | $39,420 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,000 | $35,560 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,780 | $39,200 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,720 | $41,950 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 1,330 | $46,390 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1,120 | $49,600 |
| Gainesville, GA | 920 | $35,680 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 840 | $36,270 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 730 | $39,510 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 610 | $43,680 |
| Jackson, MS | 470 | $34,530 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 430 | $48,120 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 420 | $43,060 |
| Lebanon, PA | 350 | $36,420 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 330 | $36,830 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $37,160 | $17.86 |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,290 | $20.33 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $38,300 | $18.41 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $40,140 | $19.30 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $39,680 | $19.08 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,590 | $20.00 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,810 | $21.54 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,650 | $21.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 | $35.79 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,750 | $25.84 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Machinist | $58,750 | $28.24 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,110 | $19.29 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3023. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a slaughterers and meat packers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for slaughterers and meat packers in the U.S. is $40,130 a year, or $19.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid slaughterers and meat packers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of slaughterers and meat packers in the U.S. earn at least $51,090 a year. The top 25% earn $46,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for slaughterers and meat packers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,340 a year, and a quarter of slaughterers and meat packers earn $36,150 or less.
How many slaughterers and meat packers work in the U.S.?
About 69,950 slaughterers and meat packers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.