Slaughterers and Meat Packers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Production · SOC 51-3023 · O*NET 51-3023.00
Perform nonroutine or precision functions involving the preparation of large portions of meat. Work may include specialized slaughtering tasks, cutting standard or premium cuts of meat for marketing, making sausage, or wrapping meats. Work typically occurs in slaughtering, meat packing, or wholesale establishments.
Slaughterers and Meat Packers fall under the Production category in the U.S. occupational classification. Slaughterers and Meat Packers earn a median salary of $39,790 per year, ranking in the top 85% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +2.2% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do slaughterers and meat packers earn?
The median annual wage for slaughterers and meat packers is $39,790. That puts slaughterers and meat packers at #692 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $31,470 |
| 25th percentile | $35,940 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $39,790 |
| 75th percentile | $45,930 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,460 |
| Median hourly wage | $19.13/hr |
Is slaughterers and meat packers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for slaughterers and meat packers is +2.2%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 69K positions in 2024 to 71K in 2034, a net change of 2K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
Top skills for slaughterers and meat packers
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become slaughterers and meat packer?
Slaughterers and Meat Packers typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about slaughterers and meat packers
What is the median salary for slaughterers and meat packers?
The median annual salary for slaughterers and meat packers is $39,790 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is slaughterers and meat packers a growing career?
BLS projects +2.2% growth for slaughterers and meat packers from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become slaughterers and meat packer?
The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to slaughterers and meat packers?
Related occupations within the Production category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.