Slaughterers and Meat Packers Salary
The median pay for a slaughterers and meat packers in Iowa is $43,820/year ($21.07/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $49,314 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 35.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $44K get you in Iowa?
About slaughterers and meat packers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Slaughterers and meat packers pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $44K locally vs. $40K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,064/month, which is 36.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level slaughterers and meat packers (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary by metro in Iowa
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City | $50K | +13% | 1,120 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $48K | +10% | 430 |
Compare to other states
Track slaughterers and meat packers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a slaughterers and meat packer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 36.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new slaughterers and meat packers typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,025/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $44K locally vs. $40K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for slaughterers and meat packers?
Iowa pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do slaughterers and meat packers make in Iowa?
The median is $43,820 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,750, and experienced slaughterers and meat packers can clear $46,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,931/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 36.3% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $49,314 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.