Slaughterers and Meat Packers Salary
The median pay for a slaughterers and meat packers in Arizona is $49,020/year ($23.57/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $50,845 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,437/month, about 42.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Arizona. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $49K get you in Arizona?
About slaughterers and meat packers
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What this looks like in Arizona
Arizona sits well above the national pay line for slaughterers and meat packers, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $40K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,437/month, which is 42.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level slaughterers and meat packers (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track slaughterers and meat packers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a slaughterers and meat packer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 42.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for slaughterers and meat packers in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new slaughterers and meat packers typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,402/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is slaughterers and meat packer a high-paying job in Arizona?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $49K here vs. $40K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for slaughterers and meat packers?
Arizona pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do slaughterers and meat packers make in Arizona?
The median is $49,020 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,030, and experienced slaughterers and meat packers can clear $58,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,350/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 42.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a slaughterers and meat packers salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median slaughterers and meat packers salary is worth about $50,845 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do slaughterers and meat packers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.