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)
(1) Wage estimate isn't available.
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $17.30 | $19.00 | $22.62 |
| Yearly | $35,981 | $39,531 | $47,051 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $15.64 | $17.52 | $19.73 |
| Yearly | $32,514 | $36,458 | $41,039 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $17.49 | $19.32 | $22.29 |
| Yearly | $36,384 | $40,192 | $46,370 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $15.54 | $17.31 | $19.84 |
| Yearly | $32,336 | $36,006 | $41,267 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $18.05 | $20.35 | $24.50 |
| Yearly | $37,541 | $42,308 | $50,950 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $17.87 | $18.66 | $23.29 |
| Yearly | $37,179 | $38,820 | $48,437 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $14.97 | $17.20 | $18.98 |
| Yearly | $31,125 | $35,763 | $39,490 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $18.74 | $23.42 | $23.42 |
| Yearly | $38,994 | $48,728 | $48,728 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $17.88 | $18.85 | $22.78 |
| Yearly | $37,192 | $39,199 | $47,374 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $17.51 | $18.81 | $22.70 |
| Yearly | $36,417 | $39,116 | $47,224 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $15.41 | $18.03 | $20.52 |
| Yearly | $32,043 | $37,506 | $42,681 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $15.46 | $17.35 | $19.65 |
| Yearly | $32,154 | $36,078 | $40,864 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $20.32 | $25.50 | $25.50 |
| Yearly | $42,286 | $53,035 | $53,035 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $14.46 | $17.56 | $20.56 |
| Yearly | $30,073 | $36,539 | $42,757 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $15.61 | $17.42 | $20.68 |
| Yearly | $32,453 | $36,227 | $43,014 | |
| Shawnee National Forest Area | Hourly | $15.06 | $18.16 | $22.56 |
| Yearly | $31,323 | $37,776 | $46,927 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $15.75 | $18.26 | $20.69 |
| Yearly | $32,751 | $37,991 | $43,040 | |
| Vermilion County | Hourly | $15.13 | $17.14 | $20.43 |
| Yearly | $31,475 | $35,655 | $42,491 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $17.72 | $21.36 | $22.69 |
| Yearly | $36,846 | $44,423 | $47,212 | |
| United States | Hourly | $16.57 | $18.73 | $22.69 |
| Yearly | $34,460 | $38,960 | $47,200 | |
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $18.18 | $19.44 | $22.38 |
| Yearly | $37,817 | $40,444 | $46,548 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $18.51 | $19.44 | $19.61 |
| Yearly | $38,500 | $40,440 | $40,792 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $19.17 | $19.17 | $19.68 |
| Yearly | $39,870 | $39,870 | $40,924 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $18.52 | $18.91 | $22.99 |
| Yearly | $38,517 | $39,330 | $47,826 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $17.84 | $22.79 | $23.08 |
| Yearly | $37,105 | $47,389 | $48,011 | |
| United States | Hourly | $16.37 | $18.13 | $20.89 |
| Yearly | $34,050 | $37,700 | $43,450 | |
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $17.20 | $20.12 | $23.32 |
| Yearly | $35,765 | $41,860 | $48,498 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $15.40 | $18.96 | $18.96 |
| Yearly | $32,029 | $39,444 | $39,444 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $16.88 | $17.20 | $18.34 |
| Yearly | $35,100 | $35,758 | $38,151 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $19.38 | $23.77 | $25.04 |
| Yearly | $40,304 | $49,441 | $52,082 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $16.66 | $18.74 | $21.94 |
| Yearly | $34,656 | $38,985 | $45,624 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | (1) | (1) | (1) |
| Yearly | (1) | (1) | (1) | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $17.56 | $17.56 | $17.56 |
| Yearly | $36,528 | $36,528 | $36,528 | |
| United States | Hourly | $17.28 | $19.13 | $22.08 |
| Yearly | $35,940 | $39,790 | $45,930 | |