Slaughterers and Meat Packers in Iowa

Is Iowa a good place for you to work as a Slaughterer and Meat Packer?

You’re in luck! Jobs for Slaughterers and Meat Packers in Iowa are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.

• Projected employment for Slaughterers and Meat Packers in Iowa is growing faster than average.

• Slaughterers and Meat Packers in Iowa earn lower salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.

What Major Will Prepare You For a Slaughterer and Meat Packer Career?

• Personal & Culinary Services
• Culinary Arts
• Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter

How Many Slaughterers and Meat Packers Work in Iowa?

There were approximately 3,950 workers employed as Slaughterers and Meat Packers in this state in 2018.

There were 5,580 Slaughterers and Meat Packers employed in this state in 2017.

That’s a decline of 1,630 jobs between 2017 and 2018.

The typical state has 1,040 Slaughterers and Meat Packers working in it, which means Iowa has more Slaughterers and Meat Packers than average.

Job Projections for Iowa

Jobs for Slaughterers and Meat Packers in this state are growing at a rate of 6.4% which is faster than the nationwide estimated projection of 0.6%.

Iowa Annual Job Openings

The BLS estimates 1,080 annual job openings, and a total of 8,750 jobs for Iowa Slaughterers and Meat Packers in 2026.

Nationwide, the prediction is 10,100 annual jobs and 83,000 total jobs in 2026.

What do Slaughterers and Meat Packers Make in Iowa?

In 2018 wages for Slaughterers and Meat Packers ranged from $25,890 to $39,290 with $32,330 being the median annual salary.

Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $12.45 to $18.89. The median hourly rate was $15.54.

In 2017 the median pay for this field was $15.95 an hour.

The hourly rate declined by $0.41.

The median salary in Iowa is higher than the nationwide median salary.

Explore Best Ranked Schools for You

Top Iowa Metros for Slaughterers and Meat Packers

The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Slaughterers and Meat Packers.

Metro	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	820	n/a
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA	620	$28,520
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	470	$32,610
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	370	$33,760

Top States for Slaughterers and Meat Packers Employment

View the list below to see where most Slaughterers and Meat Packers work.

State	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
North Carolina	5,720	$28,990
California	5,350	$27,970
Georgia	5,010	$24,540
Illinois	4,150	$31,210
Minnesota	4,140	$31,920
Ohio	4,010	$27,040
Iowa	3,950	$32,330
Alabama	3,390	$21,610
Kansas	2,810	$32,870
Pennsylvania	2,610	$30,550
Mississippi	2,520	$25,430
Wisconsin	2,220	$29,840
Arkansas	1,640	$28,130
Nebraska	1,640	$33,400
Virginia	1,600	$28,920
Washington	1,220	$32,640
Oklahoma	1,140	$23,240
Indiana	1,040	$30,020
Louisiana	1,010	$22,290
South Dakota	920	$29,720

Below are the states where Slaughterers and Meat Packers get paid the most:

State	Annual Median Salary
Maryland	$35,960
Nebraska	$33,400
Kansas	$32,870
Washington	$32,640
Iowa	$32,330
Arizona	$32,070
Minnesota	$31,920
Illinois	$31,210
Pennsylvania	$30,550
Indiana	$30,020

Related Careers in Iowa

Discover similar careers:

Occupation	Iowa Employment Total
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers	6,570
Butchers and Meat Cutters	3,230

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• Image Credit: By U.S. Army Europe Images under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.