Wages vary by type of work they do. Wages also vary by employer and area of the country. In addition, those who are members of a union usually receive higher wages than non-union workers.
Benefits vary by employer and specialty. Meat cutters who work full time for grocery stores usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, health insurance, and a retirement plan. Poultry workers, however, rarely earn major benefits.
Butchers and meat cutters (SOC 51-3021)
Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers (SOC 51-3022)
Slaughterers and meat packers (SOC 51-3023)
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $14.69 | $18.11 | $23.15 |
| Yearly | $30,560 | $37,667 | $48,135 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $14.63 | $17.25 | $20.78 |
| Yearly | $30,435 | $35,870 | $43,216 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $14.20 | $18.26 | $19.22 |
| Yearly | $29,549 | $37,971 | $39,977 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $14.55 | $18.09 | $23.32 |
| Yearly | $30,250 | $37,633 | $48,521 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $14.62 | $16.67 | $19.51 |
| Yearly | $30,403 | $34,688 | $40,587 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $16.03 | $18.16 | $23.24 |
| Yearly | $33,348 | $37,792 | $48,343 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $14.40 | $16.86 | $21.27 |
| Yearly | $29,949 | $35,073 | $44,248 | |
| Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area | Hourly | $14.80 | $16.86 | $19.54 |
| Yearly | $30,774 | $35,073 | $40,651 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $16.76 | $19.15 | $23.36 |
| Yearly | $34,857 | $39,833 | $48,597 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $15.90 | $18.19 | $23.33 |
| Yearly | $33,069 | $37,833 | $48,527 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $16.12 | $18.11 | $21.09 |
| Yearly | $33,531 | $37,667 | $43,883 | |
| Mt. Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area | Hourly | $13.28 | $18.40 | $20.47 |
| Yearly | $27,622 | $38,273 | $42,575 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $14.01 | $16.40 | $19.11 |
| Yearly | $29,122 | $34,116 | $39,746 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $13.99 | $16.29 | $19.31 |
| Yearly | $29,084 | $33,878 | $40,166 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $16.86 | $21.37 | $23.42 |
| Yearly | $35,065 | $44,447 | $48,700 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $14.84 | $16.01 | $19.40 |
| Yearly | $30,867 | $33,293 | $40,355 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $14.65 | $15.49 | $19.30 |
| Yearly | $30,467 | $32,210 | $40,139 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $14.76 | $19.37 | $23.43 |
| Yearly | $30,697 | $40,295 | $48,722 | |
| St. Louis-Belleville Area | Hourly | $14.53 | $16.86 | $19.76 |
| Yearly | $30,212 | $35,073 | $41,093 | |
| Vermilion County | Hourly | $13.89 | $16.28 | $19.99 |
| Yearly | $28,901 | $33,858 | $41,567 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $14.69 | $18.16 | $23.36 |
| Yearly | $30,561 | $37,792 | $48,597 | |
| United States | Hourly | $14.53 | $17.76 | $21.71 |
| Yearly | $30,210 | $36,930 | $45,150 | |
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $17.81 | $19.36 | $20.25 |
| Yearly | $37,034 | $40,265 | $42,122 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $17.85 | $17.85 | $17.85 |
| Yearly | $37,136 | $37,136 | $37,136 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $17.81 | $18.13 | $19.49 |
| Yearly | $37,035 | $37,726 | $40,528 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $16.16 | $17.96 | $17.96 |
| Yearly | $33,622 | $37,340 | $37,340 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $17.56 | $19.98 | $19.98 |
| Yearly | $36,533 | $41,549 | $41,549 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $18.99 | $23.09 | $23.09 |
| Yearly | $39,499 | $48,027 | $48,027 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $19.57 | $19.57 | $19.57 |
| Yearly | $40,708 | $40,708 | $40,708 | |
| United States | Hourly | $14.42 | $16.86 | $18.80 |
| Yearly | $29,990 | $35,070 | $39,100 | |
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $18.81 | $19.74 | $21.91 |
| Yearly | $39,120 | $41,059 | $45,565 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $17.30 | $17.30 | $17.90 |
| Yearly | $35,990 | $35,990 | $37,235 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $18.84 | $19.12 | $22.84 |
| Yearly | $39,194 | $39,781 | $47,511 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $22.84 | $22.84 | $22.84 |
| Yearly | $47,521 | $47,521 | $47,521 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $19.74 | $19.74 | $19.74 |
| Yearly | $41,059 | $41,059 | $41,059 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $18.00 | $23.66 | $23.66 |
| Yearly | $37,433 | $49,211 | $49,211 | |
| St. Louis-Belleville Area | Hourly | $20.23 | $21.91 | $21.91 |
| Yearly | $42,063 | $45,565 | $45,565 | |
| United States | Hourly | $14.76 | $16.94 | $18.48 |
| Yearly | $30,690 | $35,240 | $38,440 | |