Butchers and Meat Cutters pay in Illinois
In Illinois, the median pay for butchers and meat cutters is $18.86 an hour ($39,240 a year). About 7,710 people work in this job there.
That is 2% lower than the U.S. median ($40,140). Illinois ranks 30th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Illinois
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $16.17 | $33,630 |
| 25% of workers | $17.42 | $36,240 |
| Half of workers (median) | $18.86 | $39,240 |
| 75% of workers | $22.65 | $47,110 |
| 90% of workers | $25.11 | $52,220 |
Butchers and Meat Cutters pay in Illinois metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Kankakee | $40,480 | 60 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $40,410 | 5,910 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $37,960 | 150 |
| Bloomington | $36,400 | 70 |
| Springfield | $35,860 | 80 |
| Peoria | $35,490 | 130 |
| Rockford | $35,360 | 130 |
Illinois unemployment rate: 4.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for butchers and meat cutters
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +2.4% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 15,100 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,580 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $34,850 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,440 |
| Bakers | $37,030 |
| Food Batchmakers | $48,130 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,830 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $40,690 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $44,950 |
Other job titles for this job
Open butchers and meat cutters jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring butchers and meat cutters? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.