Slaughterers and Meat Packers Salary in Des Moines, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median annual salary $43,400 +9.1% vs national
Median hourly $20.86
10th percentile $36,370
90th percentile $53,790
Employed locally 270
National median $39,790

Compare Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary & buying power

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Slaughterers and Meat Packers
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Des Moines, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,370
    25th
    $38,850
    50th (median)
    $43,400
    75th
    $43,740
    90th
    $53,790

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary vs area income 52% Median Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary is 48% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Slaughterers and Meat Packers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $52,180
    Omaha, NE-IA $49,630
    Corpus Christi, TX $49,460
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $48,380
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $48,120
    Nebraska $48,080

    Nearby metros — Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Omaha, NE-IA $49,630
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $48,380
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $48,120
    Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $48,080
    Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $43,670
    Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $42,330

    Related occupations in Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $43,510
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $69,590
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $49,200
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $50,950
    Butchers and Meat Cutters $36,140
    Bakers $36,460

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Slaughterers and Meat Packers make per hour in Des Moines?

    The median hourly wage for Slaughterers and Meat Packers in Des Moines, IA is $20.86, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $25.86 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines above or below average for Slaughterers and Meat Packers salaries?

    The median Slaughterers and Meat Packers salary in Des Moines, IA is 9.1% above the national median of $39,790. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Slaughterers and Meat Packers in Des Moines?

    Entry-level Slaughterers and Meat Packers (10th percentile) earn around $36,370 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,850.