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Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders: Career Profile
Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.
The Daily Work of Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Perform?
The core tasks performed by packaging and filling machine operators and tenders include:
- Attach identification labels to finished packaged items, or cut stencils and stencil information on containers, such as lot numbers or shipping destinations.
- Sort, grade, weigh, and inspect products, verifying and adjusting product weight or measurement to meet specifications.
- Stop or reset machines when malfunctions occur, clear machine jams, and report malfunctions to a supervisor.
- Observe machine operations to ensure quality and conformity of filled or packaged products to standards.
- Remove finished packaged items from machine and separate rejected items.
- Monitor the production line, watching for problems such as pile-ups, jams, or glue that isn't sticking properly.
- Inspect and remove defective products and packaging material.
- Start machine by engaging controls.
What Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Need to Know
Successful packaging and filling machine operators and tenders rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Ampoule Filler
- Ampoule Sealer
- Apple Press Operator
- Assembly Line Worker
- Assembly Person
- Assembly Worker
- Auto Roller
- Automatic Cigar Wrapper Tender
How Many Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Are There?
The U.S. employs around 588,507 packaging and filling machine operators and tenders working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +0.8% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $49,448 |
| Hourly median | $23.77 |
| 10th percentile | $31,701 |
| 25th percentile | $40,574 |
| 75th percentile | $58,322 |
| 90th percentile | $67,195 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $48,530 |
| Maine | $47,680 |
| West Virginia | $47,410 |
| Missouri | $47,010 |
| Idaho | $46,470 |
| New Hampshire | $46,310 |
| Virginia | $46,230 |
| Tennessee | $45,530 |
| North Dakota | $45,390 |
| Nebraska | $44,760 |
| Colorado | $44,320 |
| Wisconsin | $44,170 |
| Iowa | $43,900 |
| Vermont | $43,680 |
| California | $43,670 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,470 |
| Minnesota | $43,230 |
| Kentucky | $43,190 |
| Kansas | $43,030 |
| Indiana | $42,820 |
| Oregon | $42,640 |
| Maryland | $42,210 |
| New Jersey | $42,190 |
| Montana | $41,200 |
| South Dakota | $41,080 |
| Illinois | $40,920 |
| Georgia | $40,900 |
| Ohio | $40,800 |
| North Carolina | $40,640 |
| Washington | $40,580 |
| Utah | $40,430 |
| New York | $39,910 |
| Arizona | $39,720 |
| Rhode Island | $39,300 |
| Massachusetts | $38,690 |
| Connecticut | $38,150 |
| Michigan | $38,090 |
| Alaska | $37,880 |
| South Carolina | $37,870 |
| Oklahoma | $37,690 |
| Arkansas | $37,660 |
| Nevada | $37,440 |
| Texas | $37,200 |
| Mississippi | $37,060 |
| Delaware | $36,570 |
| Florida | $36,560 |
| New Mexico | $35,970 |
| Alabama | $35,760 |
| Hawaii | $31,620 |
| Louisiana | $30,670 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,950 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plains States | $44,504 | 9.9% | 1.54 |
| Rocky Mountains | $43,333 | 3.5% | 1.08 |
| Far Western US | $42,859 | 15.8% | 0.98 |
| Middle Atlantic | $41,783 | 12.5% | 0.94 |
| Great Lakes | $41,244 | 23.9% | 1.75 |
| New England | $40,502 | 3.0% | 0.69 |
| Southeast | $40,233 | 22.5% | 1.05 |
| Southwest | $37,615 | 7.7% | 0.62 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | NH | $79,300 | 240 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | CO | $77,290 | 620 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | IA | $65,570 | 1,080 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | VA | $63,370 | 500 |
| Williamsport, PA | PA | $62,930 | 270 |
| Lynchburg, VA | VA | $59,180 | 330 |
| Owensboro, KY | KY | $57,480 | 1,010 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $56,990 | 2,220 |
Top Industries Employing Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
Most packaging and filling machine operators and tenders are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 302,120 | $43,010 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 37,940 | $36,360 |
| Wholesale Trade | 24,970 | $40,420 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 5,710 | $40,830 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 5,560 | $37,770 |
| Retail Trade | 2,390 | $37,710 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,610 | $44,650 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,130 | $32,220 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of packaging and filling machine operators and tenders is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
- Spend Time Standing
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Time Pressure
Education and Training
Entry-level packaging and filling machine operators and tenders positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery (Supplemental)
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders (Supplemental)
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (Primary-Long)
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing (Supplemental)
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (Primary-Long)
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-9111.00 (Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders).
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