Checked
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Salary
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders earn a median $43,220 a year in the U.S., with 379,060 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $43,220 a year
- Employment
- 379,060
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +4.1%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 41,400
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $43,220 · $20.78 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $44,590 · $21.44 an hour (estimate error ±0.2%)
- 10th percentile
- $33,390 · $16.06 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $36,850 · $17.72 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $49,070 · $23.59 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $60,030 · $28.86 an hour
- Employment
- 379,060 (estimate error ±0.8%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 377,700
- Projected for 2035
- 393,300
- Change
- +15,600 (+4.1%)
- Openings each year
- 41,400
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 0.2%
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $49,450 | 620 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $48,890 | 360 |
| 3 | Missouri | $48,070 | 12,620 |
| 4 | Maine | $47,970 | 1,490 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $47,390 | 760 |
| 6 | Idaho | $46,720 | 3,950 |
| 7 | Vermont | $46,670 | 880 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $46,410 | 810 |
| 9 | Nebraska | $46,220 | 4,410 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $46,220 | 16,150 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 43,430 | $44,020 |
| Illinois | 29,400 | $43,150 |
| Texas | 22,970 | $38,950 |
| Pennsylvania | 19,340 | $44,480 |
| New York | 18,150 | $39,330 |
| Ohio | 17,850 | $43,310 |
| Wisconsin | 16,150 | $46,220 |
| Florida | 14,010 | $37,170 |
| Indiana | 12,880 | $44,600 |
| Missouri | 12,620 | $48,070 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $79,800 | 670 |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $67,700 | 1,080 |
| 3 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $61,680 | 160 |
| 4 | Owensboro, KY | $61,250 | 980 |
| 5 | Eau Claire, WI | $60,340 | 330 |
| 6 | Decatur, IL | $59,160 | 160 |
| 7 | Traverse City, MI | $54,020 | 200 |
| 8 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $53,540 | 240 |
| 9 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $51,980 | 320 |
| 10 | Twin Falls, ID | $51,430 | 950 |
| 11 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $51,100 | 850 |
| 12 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $50,930 | 1,120 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 21,830 | $43,290 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 16,110 | $38,790 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 13,990 | $43,470 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 8,240 | $40,610 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 6,100 | $42,450 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,770 | $44,340 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 4,910 | $47,460 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 4,770 | $45,570 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 4,720 | $42,320 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 4,230 | $37,770 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 4,110 | $35,810 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 4,080 | $43,780 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)50 certified filingsMedian offered wage $30,000
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
- Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
Frequently asked questions
- How much do packaging and filling machine operators and tenders make?
- The median wage for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in the U.S. is $43,220 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,850 and $49,070.
- Which state pays packaging and filling machine operators and tenders the most?
- New Hampshire has the highest median wage for this occupation at $49,450 a year.
- What is the job outlook for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders?
- BLS projects employment to grow 4.1% from 2025 to 2035, with about 41,400 openings each year on average.
- What education do packaging and filling machine operators and tenders need?
- The typical entry-level education is: high school diploma or equivalent.