Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salary in Illinois
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers in Illinois earn a median of $40,690 a year ($19.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,390 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $38,300. Illinois ranks 16th of 50 states for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers pay. There are 0.66 meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $41,440, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,750 | $17.19 |
| 25th percentile | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| Median | $40,690 | $19.56 |
| 75th percentile | $45,360 | $21.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,390 | $22.78 |
| Average (mean) | $41,440 | $19.92 |
Half of meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,390.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,695.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,565 |
| Weekly | $782.50 |
| Hourly | $19.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $40,690 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $40,690 | 2,770 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $39,860 | 390 |
Highest-paying states for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $50,390 |
| Arizona | $48,550 |
| Kansas | $48,080 |
| Nebraska | $47,580 |
| New Hampshire | $47,260 |
| North Dakota | $47,250 |
| Michigan | $44,430 |
| South Dakota | $44,290 |
| Utah | $44,150 |
| Minnesota | $43,400 |
See Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers pay in every state.
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Food Batchmaker | $48,130 | $23.14 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $39,240 | $18.86 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $45,340 | $21.80 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,670 | $20.51 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,140 | $21.22 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,200 | $36.16 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.75 |
| Machinist | $58,520 | $28.13 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,320 | $24.67 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $42,470 | $20.42 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers make in Illinois?
The median salary for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Illinois is $40,690 a year, or $19.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Illinois earn at least $47,390 a year. The top 25% earn $45,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,750 a year, and a quarter of meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers earn $37,590 or less.
How many meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers work in Illinois?
About 4,040 meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.