Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Slaughterers and Meat Packers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $39,200 a year ($18.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,780 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,290 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $40,130. Pay here is 13% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $44,950. There are 0.39 slaughterers and meat packers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $41,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for slaughterers and meat packers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,200 | $16.44 |
| 25th percentile | $34,870 | $16.77 |
| Median | $39,200 | $18.85 |
| 75th percentile | $47,240 | $22.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,290 | $24.66 |
| Average (mean) | $41,730 | $20.06 |
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 | $3,266.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,633.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,507.69 |
| Weekly | $753.85 |
| Hourly | $18.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,200 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $48,120 | 430 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $39,070 | 100 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $38,840 | 120 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,830 | 330 |
Highest-paying states for slaughterers and meat packers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $50,480 |
| Arizona | $49,020 |
| Nebraska | $48,910 |
| Kansas | $48,240 |
| Montana | $46,700 |
| South Carolina | $46,000 |
| Oregon | $45,980 |
| Oklahoma | $45,970 |
| Michigan | $45,850 |
| New Jersey | $45,230 |
See Slaughterers and Meat Packers pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Food Batchmaker | $47,660 | $22.91 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $40,410 | $19.43 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $40,690 | $19.56 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,280 | $21.29 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $42,840 | $20.59 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,650 | $20.99 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,230 | $23.19 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,290 | $20.81 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,500 | $36.78 |
| Machinist | $59,520 | $28.62 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $41,160 | $19.79 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,650 | $25.31 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for slaughterers and meat packers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $39,200 a year, or $18.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid slaughterers and meat packers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of slaughterers and meat packers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $51,290 a year. The top 25% earn $47,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for slaughterers and meat packers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,200 a year, and a quarter of slaughterers and meat packers earn $34,870 or less.
How many slaughterers and meat packers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 1,780 slaughterers and meat packers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.