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Packing Meat Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

US Foods

Meat Packer/Production Associate

Aurora, IL · On-site

$20 - $20.75/hr

Prepare and pack meat products to achieve production demands. Must adhere to USDA Safety and Sanitation Regulations and customer specifications. Location is at Chicago Stock Yards in Aurora, IL 1st ...

Verstela

$14.50 - $17.25/hr

We are hiring for multiple full-time Food Production Positions, including Cook/Prep Cook, Meat Room, and Packer roles. These opportunities are ideal for candidates with food preparation, kitchen ...

Consumers Packing

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Butcher

Melrose Park, IL · On-site

$21 - $25/hr

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2 years of verifiable experience in meat preparation and cutting.. You will be responsible for preparing, trimming, and cutting meat while maintaining the ...

Urgent

Consumers Packing

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Butcher

Melrose Park, IL · On-site

$21 - $25/hr

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2 years of verifiable experience in meat preparation and cutting.. You will be responsible for preparing, trimming, and cutting meat while maintaining the ...

Urgent

Consumers Packing

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Driver

Melrose Park, IL · On-site

$18 - $21/hr

Company Description Wholesale Meat Company

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Packing Meat information

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How much do packing meat jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for packing meat in Illinois is $15.59, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.90 and $16.78 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a meat packer do?

A packing meat worker is responsible for preparing, packaging, and labeling meat products for distribution and sale. Their duties often include inspecting meat for quality, operating machinery to cut or wrap meat, and maintaining hygiene and safety standards. They may also be involved in weighing and sorting different cuts of meat, ensuring products meet company and regulatory requirements, and cleaning work areas to prevent contamination. This role is crucial in the food supply chain to ensure that meat products are safely and efficiently delivered to consumers.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a meat packer?

To thrive as a Meat Packer, you need attention to detail, physical stamina, and knowledge of food safety practices, often supported by a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with meat processing equipment, packaging machinery, and basic inventory systems is typical for this role. Strong teamwork, reliability, and the ability to follow safety protocols are important soft skills. These abilities ensure product quality, workplace safety, and efficient operations in a fast-paced food production environment.

Is meat packing a hard job?

Meat packing jobs can be physically demanding, involving repetitive tasks, standing for long periods, and working in cold environments. Workers often need to use safety equipment and follow strict hygiene protocols, which can add to the job's difficulty.

What is the difference between Packing Meat vs Butcher?

AspectPacking MeatButcher
CredentialsMinimal; often requires food safety trainingFood safety certification, knife skills training
Work EnvironmentProcessing plants, packaging linesButcher shops, meat departments in stores
Industry UsageFood manufacturing, packagingMeat cutting, retail meat sales
Job FocusPreparing meat for packaging and distributionCutting, trimming, and preparing meat for sale

While Packing Meat involves preparing meat products for distribution through packaging, Butchers focus on cutting, trimming, and preparing meat for retail sale. Both roles require knowledge of food safety, but butchers typically need more specialized knife skills and certifications. Packing Meat is more about processing and packaging, whereas butchers work directly with customers and meat preparation.

What are some common challenges faced by meat packers, and how can they be managed on the job?

Meat packers often face challenges such as working in cold environments, handling sharp tools, and maintaining strict hygiene standards. Staying comfortable in refrigerated areas requires wearing appropriate protective clothing and taking regular breaks. Additionally, attention to detail and following safety protocols are crucial to avoid injuries and ensure product quality. Teamwork and communication with colleagues and supervisors also help in managing workload efficiently and addressing issues promptly.

How much do packing meat make?

The average hourly wage for meat packers is around $13 to $16, with annual salaries typically ranging from $25,000 to $35,000. Wages can vary based on experience, location, and the employer, and some positions may offer overtime or shift differentials.
What are popular job titles related to Packing Meat jobs in Illinois? For Packing Meat jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Packing Meat jobs in Illinois look for? The top searched job categories for Packing Meat jobs in Illinois are:
Packing Meat jobs near you
Infographic showing various Packing Meat job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $32,428 per year, or $15.6 per hour.

Food Scientist - Meat

Grecian Delight | Kronos Foods

Elk Grove Village, IL • On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

Grecian Delight | Kronos Foods ("GDK") stands at the forefront as a premier provider of authentic Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. Our portfolio, featuring gyros, specialty meats, pitas, flatbreads, tzatziki, hummus, spreads, falafel, ready-to-eat and plant-based proteins, along with value-added bakery products, reflects our commitment to quality and authenticity. Serving over 400 foodservice distributors, 30,000 independent and national chain restaurants, and marking our presence in the top 40 U.S. retailers, we continue to enrich dining experiences with the flavors of the Mediterranean.
We are seeking Food Scientist - Meat to be located at our Elk Grove Village location reporting to Research & Development Manager. As our Food Scientist - Meat you will be responsible for leading meat product development (beef, pork, poultry), plant-based protein product development; develop new formulas, processing procedures and specifications for new products, product enhancements and cost reductions.
What you will do...
• Lead multiple development projects with an emphasis on meat protein, plant-based protein and sauces, both new products and improvements of current products.
• Assume technical leadership of assigned projects from concept development through successful commercialization. Recommend new product concepts to take to development.
• Investigate product and process challenges, provide creative solutions, and solve challenges in development and commercialization.
• Work cross functionally (Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Purchasing) to determine equipment, materials and processes necessary to produce products to maximize capacity and optimize quality and differentiation.
• Identify and complete technical study of ingredients, suppliers, co-packers relevant to meeting project objectives and company standards.
• Assure technically sound sensory panels are conducted for product development, shelf-life studies, improving/maintaining present products and competitive testing.
• Identify and make recommendations for process improvements using scientific techniques, design experimentation to improve formulation, process, or equipment to deliver finished products that meet defined internal and external customer parameters.
• Familiarize and evaluate competitive products in the marketplace to determine market opportunities for new products and application recommendations for current products.
• Provide raw material information and formulas to regulatory personnel to create nutritional and products analysis, and nutritional fact panels.
What you will bring...
• BS or MS degree in Food Science or related area with at least 3 years of product development.
• Experience in food manufacturing environment.
• Previous USDA meat protein product development experience.
• Experience working with Esha Genesis or equivalent nutritional program is a plus.
• Experience in food manufacturing environment.
• In-depth experience in ingredients, flavors, and their functionalities.
• Strong technical knowledge.
• Solid written and verbal communication skills at all organizational levels.
• Computer Skills in include Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook)
As members of the GDK family, we seek individuals who resonate with our vision, mission, and guiding principles. Your alignment with these core values enables us to maintain our legacy of excellence and innovation. We encourage you to embrace our commitment to customer satisfaction, ownership, leadership, and competitive spirit. Together, we will continue to bring the rich flavors of the Mediterranean to the world, fostering a culture of respect, growth, and shared success.
Our Vision: Continue to be the leader in Greek, Mediterranean and inspired world cuisine. We strive to have every table or menu in the world serving up our delicious flavors.
Our Mission: To be top of mind with our customers as the preferred and trusted company of choice, by delivering mutual value, and acting with a sense of urgency.
Our Guiding Principles:
Customer Centricity: Put the customer at the heart of the business,
Ownership and Empathy: Act like owners, think like customers,
Conscious leadership: Leading with awareness, kindness, and courage,
Competitive Spirit: Playing to win.
Why work with us...
At Grecian Delight | Kronos Foods, we understand that fulfilling our mission involves a blend of innovation and reverence for tradition-a challenge that demands exceptional dedication from our team. We hold high expectations, but we are equally committed to supporting our employees. This commitment is reflected in our pledge to provide a respectful work environment, fair compensation, and abundant opportunities for professional growth. Our community standards are built on the pillars of equal employment opportunities, respectful dialogue and actions, integrity, and accountability
What we offer...
• Highly competitive compensation and bonus programs
• Medical, Dental and Vision options for you and your family
• Safe-harbor 401(k) Plan with generous matching and immediate vesting
• Life, AD&D, Short and Long-term Disability Programs
• Health, Dependent Care, & Commuter Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Account Contributions
• Additional Voluntary Benefit Programs
• Paid Vacations and Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Target Base Salary: $85,000-$100,000 annually, plus eligibility for a 10% annual performance bonus.
Grecian Delight | Kronos Foods Corp is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, marital status, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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