Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Slaughterers and Meat Packers in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $38,800 a year ($18.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,650 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $40,130. Pay here is 3% higher than the Arkansas statewide median of $37,800. There are 3.2 slaughterers and meat packers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 7.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,780, close to the median.
Pay range for slaughterers and meat packers in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| 25th percentile | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| Median | $38,800 | $18.66 |
| 75th percentile | $38,800 | $18.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,650 | $20.51 |
| Average (mean) | $38,780 | $18.64 |
Half of slaughterers and meat packers 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 | $3,233.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,616.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,492.31 |
| Weekly | $746.15 |
| Hourly | $18.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,800 salary, see how much house you can afford in Arkansas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | $37,110 | 130 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $29,750 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for slaughterers and meat packers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $50,480 |
| Arizona | $49,020 |
| Nebraska | $48,910 |
| Kansas | $48,240 |
| Montana | $46,700 |
| South Carolina | $46,000 |
| Oregon | $45,980 |
| Oklahoma | $45,970 |
| Michigan | $45,850 |
| New Jersey | $45,230 |
See Slaughterers and Meat Packers pay in every state or the Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Food Batchmaker | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $43,160 | $20.75 |
| Baker | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $36,930 | $17.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $62,260 | $29.93 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $41,440 | $19.92 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,560 | $19.50 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $56,520 | $27.17 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $45,850 | $22.04 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,960 | $21.61 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3023. 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 slaughterers and meat packers make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for slaughterers and meat packers in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $38,800 a year, or $18.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid slaughterers and meat packers make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of slaughterers and meat packers in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $42,650 a year. The top 25% earn $38,800 or more.
What is the starting pay for slaughterers and meat packers in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,360 a year, and a quarter of slaughterers and meat packers earn $37,080 or less.
How many slaughterers and meat packers work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 300 slaughterers and meat packers are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.