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Poultry Processing Jobs in Fort Wayne, IN (NOW HIRING)

Team Member

Van Wert, OH

$13.75 - $17.25/hr

Ability to process information / merchandise through the point-of-sale system. * Ability to handle and be in contact with birds/poultry. * Ability to successfully complete all required training.

Team Member

Huntington, IN

$14.50 - $18/hr

Ability to process information / merchandise through the point-of-sale system. * Ability to handle and be in contact with birds/poultry. * Ability to successfully complete all required training.

Team Member

Ligonier, IN · On-site

$13.75 - $17/hr

Ability to process information / merchandise through the point-of-sale system. * Ability to handle and be in contact with birds/poultry. * Ability to successfully complete all required training.

Team Member

Columbia City, IN · On-site

$14 - $17.50/hr

Ability to process information / merchandise through the point-of-sale system. * Ability to handle and be in contact with birds/poultry. * Ability to successfully complete all required training.

Team Member

Ligonier, IN · On-site

$13.75 - $17/hr

Ability to process information / merchandise through the point-of-sale system. * Ability to handle and be in contact with birds/poultry. * Ability to successfully complete all required training.

Team Member

Decatur, IN · On-site

$14.75 - $18.25/hr

Ability to process information / merchandise through the point-of-sale system. * Ability to handle and be in contact with birds/poultry. * Ability to successfully complete all required training.

Team Member

Decatur, IN · On-site

$14.75 - $18.25/hr

Ability to process information / merchandise through the point-of-sale system. * Ability to handle and be in contact with birds/poultry. * Ability to successfully complete all required training.

Team Member

Kendallville, IN · On-site

$14.25 - $17.75/hr

Ability to process information / merchandise through the point-of-sale system. * Ability to handle and be in contact with birds/poultry. * Ability to successfully complete all required training.

Team Member

Van Wert, OH · On-site

$13.75 - $17.25/hr

Ability to process information / merchandise through the point-of-sale system. * Ability to handle and be in contact with birds/poultry. * Ability to successfully complete all required training.

Team Member

Fort Wayne, IN · On-site

$15 - $18.75/hr

Ability to process information / merchandise through the point-of-sale system. * Ability to handle and be in contact with birds/poultry. * Ability to successfully complete all required training.

Team Member

Columbia City, IN · On-site

$14 - $17.50/hr

Ability to process information / merchandise through the point-of-sale system. * Ability to handle and be in contact with birds/poultry. * Ability to successfully complete all required training.

Team Member

Fort Wayne, IN · On-site

$15 - $18.75/hr

Ability to process information / merchandise through the point-of-sale system. * Ability to handle and be in contact with birds/poultry. * Ability to successfully complete all required training.

Team Member

Huntington, IN · On-site

$14.50 - $18/hr

Ability to process information / merchandise through the point-of-sale system. * Ability to handle and be in contact with birds/poultry. * Ability to successfully complete all required training.

Team Member

Kendallville, IN · On-site

$14.25 - $17.75/hr

Ability to process information / merchandise through the point-of-sale system. * Ability to handle and be in contact with birds/poultry. * Ability to successfully complete all required training.

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Poultry Processing information

See Fort Wayne, IN salary details

$9

$14

$16

How much do poultry processing jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for poultry processing in Fort Wayne, IN is $14.79, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.47 and $15.19 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is poultry processing?

Poultry processing is the series of steps involved in preparing poultry, such as chickens or turkeys, for consumption. This includes slaughtering, defeathering, eviscerating, cleaning, and packaging the meat for distribution. The process is carried out in specialized facilities called poultry processing plants, which follow strict hygiene and safety regulations to ensure food quality and safety. Workers in poultry processing may operate machinery, inspect products, and handle tasks on the production line.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in poultry processing?

To thrive in Poultry Processing, you need a strong understanding of food safety protocols, basic animal handling, and physical stamina, often with a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with industrial processing equipment, safety gear, and tools like knives or automated machinery is typically required. Attention to detail, teamwork, and the ability to work efficiently under pressure are key soft skills for this role. These skills are crucial to ensure product quality, workplace safety, and effective operation within high-volume processing environments.

What are some common challenges faced in poultry processing roles, and how can new employees prepare for them?

Poultry processing roles often involve working in fast-paced environments with repetitive tasks, strict hygiene standards, and temperature-controlled settings. New employees may find it challenging to adapt to standing for long periods, handling raw poultry, and meeting productivity targets. To prepare, it's helpful to focus on physical stamina, learn proper safety and sanitation protocols, and communicate proactively with team members and supervisors. Many facilities offer on-the-job training and emphasize teamwork to help newcomers acclimate successfully.

What is the difference between Poultry Processing vs Poultry Butchering?

AspectPoultry ProcessingPoultry Butchering
CredentialsTypically no formal certifications required, but food safety training is commonSimilar; food safety and knife skills are essential
Work EnvironmentFactories or processing plants with machinery and assembly linesButcher shops, processing plants, or farms, often involving manual work
Industry UsageUsed broadly in poultry industry for large-scale processingMore specific to cutting, portioning, and preparing poultry

Both roles involve handling poultry, but poultry processing focuses on the entire processing line, including slaughter, cleaning, and packaging, often in large-scale facilities. Poultry butchering emphasizes manual cutting, portioning, and preparing poultry for sale or cooking. While they share similar skills and environments, poultry processing covers a broader scope within the industry.

What job categories do people searching Poultry Processing jobs in Fort Wayne, IN look for?

The top searched job categories for Poultry Processing jobs in Fort Wayne, IN are:

Infographic showing various Poultry Processing job openings in Fort Wayne, IN as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $30,761 per year, or $14.8 per hour.

Agricultural Commodity Grader (Poultry)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Kendallville, IN

$40K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

New


USDA Forest Service rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 120 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

162nd of 295 rated public sector bodies


Job description

If selected for this position, you would be responsible for grading the full range of poultry and poultry products and/or shell egg products in the assigned commodity.Qualifications:Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
FOR THE GS-05 LEVEL: General experience: Applicants must have three years of progressively responsible experience, one year of which was equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level in the Federal Service (equivalent to the GS-04 level) (experience may have been obtained in private or public sectors). The experience must demonstrate the ability to:
  • Identify problems, gather pertinent data or recognize solutions.
  • Plan and organize work.
  • Utilize office software such as: Adobe, Excel, Word.
Experience must provide evidence of the skills shown above. General clerical experience (typing, filing, routine processing, or other non-specialized repetitive tasks) is not creditable.
OR 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree.
Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.
FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level) that demonstrates:
  • Determining the grade, quality, acceptability, processing, packing, storage, and/or transportation of food grade product, refrigeration, processing, packing, storage, and transportation.
  • Ensuring compliance with food grade and/or sanitation regulations in a processing plant, warehouse, livestock operation, food establishment, or similar workplace to determine quality against regulations and/or standards.
OR 1 full year of graduate level education in Agriculture, Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Business, Economics or a related field.
OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND 1) have a class standing in the upper third of the graduating class, 2) membership in a national scholastic honor society (excluding Freshman honor societies), or 3) must meet certain GPA requirements. GPA requirements: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcripts or as computed based on 4 years of education, or courses completed during the final 2 year of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum (GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, e.g., 2.95 rounds to 3.0 and 2.94 rounds to 2.9).Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.
Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.
TRANSCRIPTS are required if:
  • You are qualifying for the position based on education.
  • You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
  • You are qualifying for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement.
  • This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-05/07 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.Education:This position does not have an education qualification requirement.Employment Type: OTHER

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