Butchers and Meat Cutters pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $52,800 or more. The middle half of butchers and meat cutters in Chicago earn between $36,490 and $47,840.
- $35K10th
- $36K25th
- $40KMedian
- $48K75th
- $53K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,770 | $3,564 | $20.56 |
| Median | $40,410 | $3,368 | $19.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,490 | $3,041 | $17.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,840 | $3,987 | $23.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Butchers and Meat Cutters pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Butchers and meat cutters in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($41,980) and about the same as the U.S. average ($42,380). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $40,140.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $42,770 | $40,410 | $35,380 | $52,800 | 5,910 |
| Illinois | $41,980 | $39,240 | $33,630 | $52,220 | 7,710 |
| United States | $42,380 | $40,140 | $29,460 | $58,110 | 136,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $42,770, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $34,570 a year, or $2,881 a month and $1,330 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $35,293 | $2,941 |
| Working in IL | $34,570 | $2,881 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for butchers and meat cutters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $42,770 buys what about $41,286 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 7 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$42,770
- Kankakee$42,020
- Champaign$40,750
- Bloomington$39,310
- Rockford$38,600
- Springfield$38,450
- Peoria$38,340
Highest-paying cities for butchers and meat cutters
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($62,010).
- Fairbanks, AK$62,010
- Seattle, WA$56,640
- Bremerton, WA$55,030
- Anchorage, AK$53,930
- San Jose, CA$53,790
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Butchers and Meat Cutters salary in Chicago: questions
How much do butchers and meat cutters make an hour in Chicago?
$20.56 an hour on average, and $19.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level butchers and meat cutters salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the butchers and meat cutters take-home pay in Chicago?
About $34,570 a year ($2,881 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,770.
Do butchers and meat cutters earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($42,380).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-3021; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.49, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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