Slaughterers and Meat Packers Salary
The median pay for a slaughterers and meat packers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $35,380/year ($17.01/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $32,494 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 91.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $35K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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
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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Pay for slaughterers and meat packers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $40K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 91.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for slaughterers and meat packerss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for slaughterers and meat packers in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $37K | $36K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level slaughterers and meat packers (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $15K 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a slaughterers and meat packer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 91.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new slaughterers and meat packers typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,761/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 128% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $35K here vs. $40K nationally.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for slaughterers and meat packers?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $32K — below the national median.
How much do slaughterers and meat packers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $35,380 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,350, and experienced slaughterers and meat packers can clear $44,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,452/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 91.6% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median slaughterers and meat packers salary is worth about $32,494 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.