Butcher and Meat Cutter Salary in Chicago, IL
Butchers and Meat Cutters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $40,410 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,794 take-home, or $2,733 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median butcher and meat cutter salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,669
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,505
- Medicare (1.45%)$586
- Illinois income tax$1,856
- Take-home pay$32,794
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Butcher and Meat Cutter pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,380 | $17.01 | $29,001 | $2,417 |
| 25th percentile | $36,490 | $17.54 | $29,838 | $2,487 |
| Median (50th) | $40,410 | $19.43 | $32,794 | $2,733 |
| 75th percentile | $47,840 | $23.00 | $38,396 | $3,200 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,800 | $25.38 | $42,136 | $3,511 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $40,410 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median butcher and meat cutter's $32,794 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,656 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.5× the national concentration of butcher and meat cutter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for butchers and meat cutters, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 8 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $38,120 | $32,809 | $33,265 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $46,490 | $38,081 | $32,939 |
| 3 | Atlanta, GA | $38,910 | $32,048 | $32,029 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $38,040 | $32,745 | $31,764 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $40,410 | $32,794 | $31,656 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $42,400 | $35,012 | $30,830 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $42,470 | $34,608 | $30,746 |
| 8 | Miami, FL | $39,140 | $33,629 | $29,459 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 8 metros →
About the job: butchers and meat cutters
Cut, trim, or prepare consumer-sized portions of meat for use or sale in retail establishments.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.4% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a butcher and meat cutter make in Chicago, IL?
The median butcher and meat cutter salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $40,410 a year, or about $19.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,490 and $47,840.
What is a butcher and meat cutter’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $40,410 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $32,794 a year ($2,733 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,856 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a butcher and meat cutter?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $40,140. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,656 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a butcher and meat cutter afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median butcher and meat cutter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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