Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary in Washington
Slaughterers and Meat Packers in Washington earn a median of $45,100 a year ($21.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 840 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,740 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $40,130. Washington ranks 11th 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 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $46,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for slaughterers and meat packers in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,610 | $19.52 |
| 25th percentile | $44,040 | $21.17 |
| Median | $45,100 | $21.68 |
| 75th percentile | $48,010 | $23.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,740 | $26.80 |
| Average (mean) | $46,980 | $22.59 |
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 | $3,758.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,879.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,734.62 |
| Weekly | $867.31 |
| Hourly | $21.68 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $46,380 | 200 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $45,090 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $44,040 | 240 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $46,140 | $22.18 |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,710 | $20.53 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $43,010 | $20.68 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $51,670 | $24.84 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $43,980 | $21.15 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $51,100 | $24.57 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,310 | $38.13 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,700 | $20.05 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $63,020 | $30.30 |
| Machinist | $66,160 | $31.81 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $52,480 | $25.23 |
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 Washington?
The median salary for slaughterers and meat packers in Washington is $45,100 a year, or $21.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid slaughterers and meat packers make in Washington?
The top 10% of slaughterers and meat packers in Washington earn at least $55,740 a year. The top 25% earn $48,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for slaughterers and meat packers in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,610 a year, and a quarter of slaughterers and meat packers earn $44,040 or less.
How many slaughterers and meat packers work in Washington?
About 840 slaughterers and meat packers are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.