Butchers and Meat Cutters · Illinois

Butchers and Meat Cutters Salary in Illinois

Butchers and Meat Cutters in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $39,240 —2.2% below the national median of $40,140. That ranks IL #30 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$39,240
Median hourly
$18.86
Entry level (P10)
$33,630
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$52,220
90th percentile
Employment
7,710
1.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-2.2%
U.S. $40,140

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$33,630
$36,240
$39,240
$47,110
$33,630$39,240$52,220
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $39,240.

Employment is 1.44× as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for butchers and meat cutters

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$51,670$24.842,6600.85
2Alaska$50,450$24.262300.80
3Hawaii$50,080$24.085000.91
4Oregon$49,360$23.731,5400.89
5District of Columbia$48,760$23.441500.25
6Massachusetts$48,430$23.291,4800.46
7New Hampshire$47,740$22.955300.88
8Colorado$47,490$22.832,2000.87
9New York$47,080$22.634,5400.53
10Delaware$47,040$22.612500.59

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

Frequently asked questions

How much do butchers and meat cutters make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for butchers and meat cutters in Illinois is $39,240, or $18.86 per hour. That is 2.2% below the national median of $40,140.

What is the entry-level butchers and meat cutters salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $33,630 per year ($16.17/hour). The 25th percentile is $36,240.

How many people work as butchers and meat cutters in Illinois?

About 7,710 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 1.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for butchers and meat cutters?

Illinois ranks #30 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.44x as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays butchers and meat cutters the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $51,670 per year, followed by Alaska ($50,450) and Hawaii ($50,080).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes