Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary in New Jersey
Slaughterers and Meat Packers in New Jersey earn a median of $45,230 a year ($21.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,580 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $40,130. New Jersey ranks 10th of 47 states for slaughterers and meat packers pay. There are 0.24 slaughterers and meat packers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.54). The average (mean) salary is $45,040, close to the median.
Pay range for slaughterers and meat packers in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,560 | $17.09 |
| 25th percentile | $35,560 | $17.09 |
| Median | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| 75th percentile | $55,850 | $26.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,580 | $27.68 |
| Average (mean) | $45,040 | $21.65 |
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 | $3,769.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,884.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,739.62 |
| Weekly | $869.81 |
| Hourly | $21.75 |
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 New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $52,180 | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $41,950 | 1,720 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $38,990 | 60 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,560 | 2,000 |
Highest-paying states for slaughterers and meat packers
Related jobs in New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $38,540 | $18.53 |
| Food Batchmaker | $38,250 | $18.39 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $34,670 | $16.67 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $34,930 | $16.79 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $81,110 | $38.99 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,140 | $23.62 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,280 | $19.37 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $56,500 | $27.17 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $45,800 | $22.02 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $36,050 | $17.33 |
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for slaughterers and meat packers in New Jersey is $45,230 a year, or $21.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid slaughterers and meat packers make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of slaughterers and meat packers in New Jersey earn at least $57,580 a year. The top 25% earn $55,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for slaughterers and meat packers in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,560 a year, and a quarter of slaughterers and meat packers earn $35,560 or less.
How many slaughterers and meat packers work in New Jersey?
About 1,050 slaughterers and meat packers are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.