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Occupation · SOC 51-3023

Slaughterers and Meat Packers

There are 69,950 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $40,130 a year. The most jobs are in Fresno, CA.

ProductionTypical education: No formal educational credential
69,950
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$40,130
Median pay a year
Middle half: $36,150–$46,870
7,700
Annual openings
10-year change: +2%
No formal educational credential
Typical education to enter

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 60 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
Fresno, CAMedian pay $39,420 · LCA filings 02,690$39,4200
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $35,560 · LCA filings 02,000$35,5600
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $39,200 · LCA filings 01,780$39,2000
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $41,950 · LCA filings 01,720$41,9500
Omaha, NE–IAMedian pay $46,390 · LCA filings 01,330$46,3900
Sioux City, IA–NE–SDMedian pay $49,600 · LCA filings 01,120$49,6000
Gainesville, GAMedian pay $35,680 · LCA filings 0920$35,6800
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $36,270 · LCA filings 0840$36,2700
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $39,510 · LCA filings 0730$39,5100
Grand Rapids–Wyoming–Kentwood, MIMedian pay $43,680 · LCA filings 0610$43,6800

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
Trenton–Princeton, NJEmployment 40 · LCA filings 0$52,180400
Sioux City, IA–NE–SDEmployment 1,120 · LCA filings 0$49,6001,1200
Corpus Christi, TXEmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$49,460500
Davenport–Moline–Rock Island, IA–ILEmployment 430 · LCA filings 0$48,1204300
Dayton–Kettering–Beavercreek, OHEmployment 110 · LCA filings 0$48,0301100

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
Fresno, CALevel II $39,208 · Level III $41,496 · Level IV $43,763$36,941$39,208$41,496$43,763
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $37,294 · Level III $40,851 · Level IV $44,429$33,717$37,294$40,851$44,429
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $37,898 · Level III $41,683 · Level IV $45,490$34,091$37,898$41,683$45,490
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $38,293 · Level III $41,038 · Level IV $43,763$35,568$38,293$41,038$43,763
Omaha, NE–IALevel II $44,429 · Level III $47,050 · Level IV $49,670$41,808$44,429$47,050$49,670
Sioux City, IA–NE–SDLevel II $45,469 · Level III $47,840 · Level IV $50,211$43,098$45,469$47,840$50,211
Gainesville, GALevel II $36,462 · Level III $37,898 · Level IV $39,333$35,027$36,462$37,898$39,333
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $37,253 · Level III $39,021 · Level IV $40,789$35,485$37,253$39,021$40,789
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $35,027 · Level III $37,877 · Level IV $40,706$32,198$35,027$37,877$40,706
Grand Rapids–Wyoming–Kentwood, MILevel II $39,270 · Level III $41,995 · Level IV $44,741$36,525$39,270$41,995$44,741

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

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Related occupations · Production

Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsInspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersFirst-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersPackaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersWelders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersBakersLaundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersProduction Workers, All Other

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology