Butchers and Meat Cutters pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL), the median pay for butchers and meat cutters is $19.43 an hour ($40,410 a year). About 5,910 people work in this job there.
That is about the same as the U.S. median ($40,140). It is 3% higher than the Illinois median ($39,240).
Pay range for butchers and meat cutters in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $17.01 | $35,380 |
| 25% of workers | $17.54 | $36,490 |
| Half of workers (median) | $19.43 | $40,410 |
| 75% of workers | $23.00 | $47,840 |
| 90% of workers | $25.39 | $52,800 |
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 (this page) | $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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,930 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $35,410 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,290 |
| Bakers | $37,230 |
| Food Batchmakers | $47,660 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,770 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $40,690 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,280 |
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.