Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary in Tennessee
Slaughterers and Meat Packers in Tennessee earn a median of $35,790 a year ($17.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 650 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,880 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $40,130. Tennessee ranks 41st of 47 states for slaughterers and meat packers pay. There are 0.20 slaughterers and meat packers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.44). The average (mean) salary is $37,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for slaughterers and meat packers in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| 25th percentile | $34,550 | $16.61 |
| Median | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| 75th percentile | $40,390 | $19.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,880 | $22.54 |
| Average (mean) | $37,270 | $17.92 |
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 | $2,982.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,491.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,376.54 |
| Weekly | $688.27 |
| Hourly | $17.21 |
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 Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | $35,270 | 90 |
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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $34,440 | $16.56 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,610 | $20.49 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $39,960 | $19.21 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $42,690 | $20.52 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,620 | $21.93 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $39,130 | $18.81 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,630 | $21.46 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $65,310 | $31.40 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| Machinist | $49,600 | $23.85 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,190 | $20.77 |
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for slaughterers and meat packers in Tennessee is $35,790 a year, or $17.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid slaughterers and meat packers make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of slaughterers and meat packers in Tennessee earn at least $46,880 a year. The top 25% earn $40,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for slaughterers and meat packers in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,770 a year, and a quarter of slaughterers and meat packers earn $34,550 or less.
How many slaughterers and meat packers work in Tennessee?
About 650 slaughterers and meat packers are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.