Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers · Illinois

Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers Salary in Illinois

Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $40,690 —6.2% above the national median of $38,300. That ranks IL #16 of 50 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$40,690
Median hourly
$19.56
Entry level (P10)
$35,750
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$47,390
90th percentile
Employment
4,040
0.7 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+6.2%
U.S. $38,300

Wage distribution

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

10th percentile90th percentile
$35,750
$37,590
$40,690
$45,360
$35,750$40,690$47,390
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $40,690.

Employment is only 0.71× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Highest-paying states for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers

All 50 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Colorado$50,390$24.232,4700.92
2Arizona$48,550$23.346200.20
3Kansas$48,080$23.115,0003.71
4Nebraska$47,580$22.888,3408.69
5New Hampshire$47,260$22.72——
6North Dakota$47,250$22.713900.96
7Michigan$44,430$21.369200.22
8South Dakota$44,290$21.292,0804.86
9Utah$44,150$21.231,0800.67
10Minnesota$43,400$20.873,7901.37

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

Frequently asked questions

How much do meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Illinois is $40,690, or $19.56 per hour. That is 6.2% above the national median of $38,300.

What is the entry-level meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $35,750 per year ($17.19/hour). The 25th percentile is $37,590.

How many people work as meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Illinois?

About 4,040 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.7 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers?

Illinois ranks #16 of 50 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.71x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Which state pays meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers the most?

Colorado has the highest median wage at $50,390 per year, followed by Arizona ($48,550) and Kansas ($48,080).

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