Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary in Virginia
Slaughterers and Meat Packers in Virginia earn a median of $37,430 a year ($18.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,480 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,690 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $40,130. Virginia ranks 35th of 47 states for slaughterers and meat packers pay. There are 0.36 slaughterers and meat packers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $36,570, close to the median.
Pay range for slaughterers and meat packers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,350 | $14.11 |
| 25th percentile | $37,160 | $17.87 |
| Median | $37,430 | $18.00 |
| 75th percentile | $37,430 | $18.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Average (mean) | $36,570 | $17.58 |
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 | $3,119.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,559.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,439.62 |
| Weekly | $719.81 |
| Hourly | $18.00 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,380 | 80 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $34,430 | $16.55 |
| Food Batchmaker | $41,080 | $19.75 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $39,770 | $19.12 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $37,810 | $18.18 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $35,140 | $16.90 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $59,260 | $28.49 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,900 | $21.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,150 | $35.65 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $59,180 | $28.45 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,590 | $23.84 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Machinist | $61,290 | $29.47 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,340 | $18.44 |
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 Virginia?
The median salary for slaughterers and meat packers in Virginia is $37,430 a year, or $18.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid slaughterers and meat packers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of slaughterers and meat packers in Virginia earn at least $37,690 a year. The top 25% earn $37,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for slaughterers and meat packers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,350 a year, and a quarter of slaughterers and meat packers earn $37,160 or less.
How many slaughterers and meat packers work in Virginia?
About 1,480 slaughterers and meat packers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.