How much does a slaughterer and meat packer make?
The median slaughterer and meat packer in the United States earns $40,130 per year, about $19.29 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all slaughterers and meat packers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-3023.
Slaughterer and meat packer salary range
Pay for slaughterers and meat packers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $33,340 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $51,090. The average (mean) wage of $41,770 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,340 | $16.03 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $36,150 | $17.38 | |
| Median (50th) | $40,130 | $19.29 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $46,870 | $22.54 | |
| 90th percentile | $51,090 | $24.56 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for slaughterers and meat packers (SOC 51-3023), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Slaughterer and meat packer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Slaughterers and meat packers earn the most in Colorado at $50,480 a year, and the least in Nevada at $30,430. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $50,480 | 1,590 |
| Arizona | $49,020 | 440 |
| Nebraska | $48,910 | 5,480 |
| Kansas | $48,240 | 2,170 |
| Montana | $46,700 | 80 |
| South Carolina | $46,000 | 250 |
| Oregon | $45,980 | 360 |
| Oklahoma | $45,970 | 1,560 |
| Michigan | $45,850 | 2,920 |
| New Jersey | $45,230 | 1,050 |
| Washington | $45,100 | 840 |
| Illinois | $44,950 | 3,360 |
| Missouri | $44,490 | 1,280 |
| South Dakota | $44,410 | 740 |
| Utah | $44,040 | 560 |
| Iowa | $43,820 | 4,220 |
| Indiana | $43,770 | 1,210 |
| Minnesota | $43,360 | 2,820 |
| Texas | $43,160 | 2,950 |
| Vermont | $42,220 | 50 |
| Idaho | $40,370 | 450 |
| Louisiana | $40,120 | 650 |
| North Carolina | $39,930 | 6,120 |
| North Dakota | $39,730 | 160 |
| California | $39,420 | 6,170 |
| New Hampshire | $39,270 | 40 |
| Hawaii | $38,890 | 120 |
| Maine | $38,740 | 50 |
| Kentucky | $38,330 | 320 |
| Arkansas | $37,800 | 2,140 |
| Massachusetts | $37,780 | 170 |
| Maryland | $37,650 | 130 |
| Rhode Island | $37,570 | 280 |
| Wisconsin | $37,510 | 2,620 |
| Virginia | $37,430 | 1,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,330 | 4,410 |
| Ohio | $36,800 | 2,440 |
| Georgia | $36,770 | 3,660 |
| Alabama | $36,360 | 240 |
| Connecticut | $36,290 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $35,790 | 650 |
| Florida | $34,430 | 400 |
| New York | $33,880 | 1,750 |
| Mississippi | $33,650 | 1,100 |
| Delaware | $31,200 | 50 |
| New Mexico | $30,560 | N/A |
| Nevada | $30,430 | 140 |
State median wages for slaughterers and meat packers (SOC 51-3023), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for slaughterers and meat packers
The BLS projects employment of slaughterers and meat packers to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 71,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 72,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 7,700 openings a year for slaughterers and meat packers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a slaughterer and meat packer
The typical entry-level education for slaughterers and meat packers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a slaughterer and meat packer earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Colorado, $50,480) and the lowest (Nevada, $30,430) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 69,950 people work as slaughterers and meat packers in the United States. At $40,130 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Slaughterer and meat packer salary FAQ
How much does a slaughterer and meat packer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a slaughterer and meat packer is $19.29. The middle half of slaughterers and meat packers earn between $17.38 and $22.54 per hour.
What is the highest slaughterer and meat packer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of slaughterers and meat packers earn more than $51,090 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a slaughterer and meat packer make a year?
The median annual salary for a slaughterer and meat packer is $40,130. The average (mean) wage of $41,770 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a slaughterer and meat packer a well paid job?
At $40,130 a year, a slaughterer and meat packer earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 69,950 people work as slaughterers and meat packers in the United States.
Which state pays slaughterers and meat packers the most?
Colorado has the highest median salary for slaughterers and meat packers at $50,480 a year. Arizona ($49,020) and Nebraska ($48,910) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a slaughterer and meat packer a good career?
Employment of slaughterers and meat packers is projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 7,700 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a slaughterer and meat packer?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for slaughterers and meat packers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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