Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$43,500
National baseline
Target bonus
$3,500
7.8% of base
Total target cash
$47,000
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$2,00050th$3,50075th$5,500
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
About this role
Slaughterers and Meat Packers is a professional role within the function in the Production job family.
Typical entry preparation: High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Remove bones, and cut meat into standard cuts in preparation for marketing.
Sever jugular veins to drain blood and facilitate slaughtering.
Tend assembly lines, performing a few of the many cuts needed to process a carcass.
Shackle hind legs of animals to raise them for slaughtering or skinning.
Slit open, eviscerate, and trim carcasses of slaughtered animals.
Top skills:SpeakingActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessCritical ThinkingOperations MonitoringMonitoring
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Slaughterers and Meat Packers pay by experience level
Entry level$34,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$37,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$41,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$48,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$53,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+2.2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
8,400
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary by industry
Food Manufacturing
63,380 workers
$43,500
Animal Slaughtering and Processing
63,200 workers
$43,500
Food and Beverage Retailers
3,130 workers
$38,500
Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only)
3,130 workers
$38,500
Administrative and Support Services
1,740 workers
$37,000
Employment Services
1,740 workers
$37,000
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods
1,590 workers
$43,000
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only)
1,590 workers
$43,000
Other Food Manufacturing
120 workers
$41,500
Animal Food Manufacturing
50 workers
$40,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Remove bones, and cut meat into standard cuts in preparation for marketing.
Sever jugular veins to drain blood and facilitate slaughtering.
Tend assembly lines, performing a few of the many cuts needed to process a carcass.
Shackle hind legs of animals to raise them for slaughtering or skinning.
Slit open, eviscerate, and trim carcasses of slaughtered animals.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Slaughterers and Meat Packers pays 22% below the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Need Slaughterers and Meat Packers pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
