Slaughterers and Meat Packers Salary
The median pay for a slaughterers and meat packers in Elkhart-Goshen, IN is $39,070/year ($18.79/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers.
So what does $39K get you in Elkhart-Goshen?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Elkhart-Goshen’s Regional Price Parity (90.3). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About slaughterers and meat packers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Elkhart-Goshen
Slaughterers and meat packers pay in Elkhart-Goshen tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $40K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,183/month, which is 44% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.3 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for slaughterers and meat packers in metros near Elkhart-Goshen, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $39K | , |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $44K | , |
| Cincinnati | $37K | , |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $38K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Elkhart-Goshen, IN
Entry-level slaughterers and meat packers (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Slaughterers and Meat Packers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $50K | +26% | 1,590 |
| Arizona | $49K | +22% | 440 |
| Nebraska | $49K | +22% | 5,480 |
| Kansas | $48K | +20% | 2,170 |
| Montana | $47K | +16% | 80 |
| South Carolina | $46K | +15% | 250 |
| Oregon | $46K | +15% | 360 |
| Oklahoma | $46K | +15% | 1,560 |
| Michigan | $46K | +14% | 2,920 |
| New Jersey | $45K | +13% | 1,050 |
| Washington | $45K | +12% | 840 |
| Illinois | $45K | +12% | 3,360 |
| Missouri | $44K | +11% | 1,280 |
| South Dakota | $44K | +11% | 740 |
| Utah | $44K | +10% | 560 |
| Iowa | $44K | +9% | 4,220 |
| Indiana | $44K | +9% | 1,210 |
| Minnesota | $43K | +8% | 2,820 |
| Texas | $43K | +8% | 2,950 |
| Vermont | $42K | +5% | 50 |
| Idaho | $40K | +1% | 450 |
| Louisiana | $40K | -0% | 650 |
| North Carolina | $40K | -0% | 6,120 |
| North Dakota | $40K | -1% | 160 |
| California | $39K | -2% | 6,170 |
| New Hampshire | $39K | -2% | 40 |
| Hawaii | $39K | -3% | 120 |
| Maine | $39K | -3% | 50 |
| Kentucky | $38K | -4% | 320 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -6% | 2,140 |
| Massachusetts | $38K | -6% | 170 |
| Maryland | $38K | -6% | 130 |
| Rhode Island | $38K | -6% | 280 |
| Wisconsin | $38K | -7% | 2,620 |
| Virginia | $37K | -7% | 1,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $37K | -7% | 4,410 |
| Ohio | $37K | -8% | 2,440 |
| Georgia | $37K | -8% | 3,660 |
| Alabama | $36K | -9% | 240 |
| Connecticut | $36K | -10% | 70 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -11% | 650 |
| Florida | $34K | -14% | 400 |
| New York | $34K | -16% | 1,750 |
| Mississippi | $34K | -16% | 1,100 |
| Delaware | $31K | -22% | 50 |
| New Mexico | $31K | -24% | N/A |
| Nevada | $30K | -24% | 140 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track slaughterers and meat packers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Elkhart-Goshen numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a slaughterers and meat packer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Elkhart-Goshen?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 44% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,183/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Elkhart-Goshen?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new slaughterers and meat packers typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,056/month. At HUD’s $1,183/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 Elkhart-Goshen?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $40K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Elkhart-Goshen compare to the national average for slaughterers and meat packers?
Elkhart-Goshen pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.3), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do slaughterers and meat packers make in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?
The median is $39,070 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,260, and experienced slaughterers and meat packers can clear $45,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Elkhart-Goshen?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,687/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,183/month, which eats 44% 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 Elkhart-Goshen?
Elkhart-Goshen has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median slaughterers and meat packers salary is worth about $43,267 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.