Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $39,420 +4.6% vs national
Median hourly $18.95
10th percentile $36,700
90th percentile $46,660
Employed locally 2,440
National median $37,700

Compare Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Chicago, IL-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
in
Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,700
    25th
    $37,560
    50th (median)
    $39,420
    75th
    $40,580
    90th
    $46,660

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salary vs area income 44% Median Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salary is 56% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Topeka, KS $52,050
    East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area $52,000
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $50,710
    Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area $50,480
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $49,140
    Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area $49,010

    Nearby metros — Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $50,710
    Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area $46,190
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $45,720
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $42,630
    Canton-Massillon, OH $41,920
    Illinois $39,420

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $40,560
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $72,760
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $42,110
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $47,330
    Machinists $57,470
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $39,530

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers in Chicago, IL-IN is $18.95, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.00 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salaries?

    The median Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 4.6% above the national median of $37,700. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers in Chicago?

    Entry-level Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers (10th percentile) earn around $36,700 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,560.