Approximately 500,000 people work in
the U.S. meat and poultry industry.
Maintaining competitive wages and
benefits is a key element in retaining these
workers, and fulfilling the ongoing resource
needs of the nation’s meat packing/processing
operations. As of 2009, the most recent
year of data available, workers in meat and
poultry plants averaged about $13.16/hour, and
typically worked a 40 hour week. This
wage compares favorably with a number of other
occupations, and is nearly double the
U.S.
minimum wage. Benefits include health
insurance, life insurance, disability
insurance, wellness programs, pension/401K
plans, educational assistance, and other
programs.
As workforce needs are not expected to
diminish in the industry, continued emphasis on
providing competitive wages and benefits will
remain an issue of great
importance.