Slaughterers and Meat Packers in Virginia
Thinking about a career as a Slaughterers and Meat Packers in Virginia? Below are the key facts. Perform nonroutine or precision functions involving the preparation of large portions of meat. Work may include specialized slaughtering tasks, cutting standard or premium cuts of meat for marketing, making sausage, or wrapping meats. Work typically occurs in slaughtering, meat packing, or wholesale establishments. Excludes “Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers” (51-3022) who perform routine meat cutting.
What do Slaughterers and Meat Packers Make in Virginia?
For a slaughterers and meat packers working in Virginia, the median annual wage is $36,490 per year (or roughly $17.55/hour).Annual wages span from $35,970 at the 10th percentile to $39,380 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,970 | $17.29 |
| 25th percentile | $36,390 | $17.49 |
| Median (50th) | $36,490 | $17.55 |
| 75th percentile | $36,680 | $17.63 |
| 90th percentile | $39,380 | $18.93 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Virginia relative to the national average — is 0.35, suggesting fewer slaughterers and meat packers per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, slaughterers and meat packers earn a median of $47,691 per year ($22.93/hour), below the Virginia median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 216,412 slaughterers and meat packers in the U.S.. In Virginia alone, about 620 people work in this role. That trails the typical state, which employs around 740 slaughterers and meat packers.
Top Virginia Metros for Slaughterers and Meat Packers
The largest metro-area employers of slaughterers and meat packers in Virginia.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VA | 330 | $36,390 |
Top States for Slaughterers and Meat Packers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most slaughterers and meat packers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 6,830 |
| North Carolina | 5,750 |
| Nebraska | 5,140 |
| Texas | 4,430 |
| Iowa | 4,040 |
| Georgia | 4,000 |
| Illinois | 3,730 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,700 |
| Minnesota | 3,190 |
| Kansas | 2,430 |
| Wisconsin | 2,400 |
| Mississippi | 2,320 |
| Michigan | 1,740 |
| Ohio | 1,730 |
| Missouri | 1,630 |
| Indiana | 1,490 |
| Oklahoma | 1,430 |
| Arkansas | 1,130 |
| Washington | 1,000 |
| New Jersey | 830 |
Highest-Paying States for Slaughterers and Meat Packers
Where slaughterers and meat packers earn the most: slaughterers and meat packers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Nebraska | $48,080 |
| Arizona | $47,470 |
| Kansas | $47,310 |
| Washington | $46,460 |
| Montana | $46,180 |
| Missouri | $44,730 |
| Oklahoma | $44,530 |
| Iowa | $44,400 |
| Massachusetts | $44,140 |
| South Dakota | $43,020 |
Skills
Key slaughterers and meat packers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for slaughterers and meat packers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Slaughterers and Meat Packers typically:
- Remove bones, and cut meat into standard cuts in preparation for marketing.
- Sever jugular veins to drain blood and facilitate slaughtering.
- Tend assembly lines, performing a few of the many cuts needed to process a carcass.
- Shackle hind legs of animals to raise them for slaughtering or skinning.
- Slit open, eviscerate, and trim carcasses of slaughtered animals.
- Stun animals prior to slaughtering.
- Skin sections of animals or whole animals.
- Cut, trim, skin, sort, and wash viscera of slaughtered animals to separate edible portions from offal.
- Shave or singe and defeather carcasses, and wash them in preparation for further processing or packaging.
- Saw, split, or scribe carcasses into smaller portions to facilitate handling.
- Trim head meat, and sever or remove parts of animals' heads or skulls.
- Grind meat into hamburger, and into trimmings used to prepare sausages, luncheon meats, and other meat products.
Work Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Getting Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Training and Teaching Others
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Culinary Arts
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like slaughterers and meat packers include:
- Animal Scientists
- Food Scientists and Technologists
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
- Cooks, Restaurant
- Cooks, Short Order
- Food Preparation Workers
Also Known As
Animal Killer, Animal Sticker, Animal Stunner, Beef Killer, Beef Splitter, Bitter, Boning Room Worker, Brainer, Butcher, Cattle Killer, Cold Storage Worker, Deboner, Halal Meat Packer, Hog Killer, Hog Slaughterer.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 51-3023.00
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