Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary in Kentucky
Slaughterers and Meat Packers in Kentucky earn a median of $38,330 a year ($18.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,400 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $40,130. Kentucky ranks 29th of 47 states for slaughterers and meat packers pay. There are 0.16 slaughterers and meat packers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.36). The average (mean) salary is $39,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for slaughterers and meat packers in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,600 | $17.60 |
| 25th percentile | $37,520 | $18.04 |
| Median | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| 75th percentile | $42,400 | $20.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,400 | $20.38 |
| Average (mean) | $39,250 | $18.87 |
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 | $3,194.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,597.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,474.23 |
| Weekly | $737.12 |
| Hourly | $18.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmaker | $46,900 | $22.55 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $35,430 | $17.03 |
| Baker | $33,890 | $16.29 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $37,450 | $18.01 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,540 | $23.34 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,800 | $20.09 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,490 | $34.85 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,280 | $22.25 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,470 | $24.74 |
| Machinist | $58,660 | $28.20 |
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for slaughterers and meat packers in Kentucky is $38,330 a year, or $18.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid slaughterers and meat packers make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of slaughterers and meat packers in Kentucky earn at least $42,400 a year. The top 25% earn $42,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for slaughterers and meat packers in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,600 a year, and a quarter of slaughterers and meat packers earn $37,520 or less.
How many slaughterers and meat packers work in Kentucky?
About 320 slaughterers and meat packers are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.