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Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in Virginia

Want to work as a Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in Virginia? Here’s what the data says. Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.

What do Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Make in Virginia?

The packaging and filling machine operators and tenders working in Virginia, wages run about $46,230 per year (or roughly $22.23/hour).Earnings range from $30,770 at the 10th percentile to $63,370 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$30,770	$14.80
25th percentile	$36,360	$17.48
Median (50th)	$46,230	$22.23
75th percentile	$59,260	$28.49
90th percentile	$63,370	$30.47

The job concentration index in Virginia nationwide is 0.68, indicating fewer packaging and filling machine operators and tenders per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, packaging and filling machine operators and tenders earn a median of $49,448 per year ($23.77/hour), below the Virginia median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 588,507 packaging and filling machine operators and tenders across the United States. In Virginia alone, around 6,890 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 5,130 packaging and filling machine operators and tenders.

Top Virginia Metros for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

These are the Virginia metros with the most packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in Virginia.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Richmond, VA	1,410	$47,630
Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA	910	$52,570
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	790	$55,890
Harrisonburg, VA	500	$63,370
Roanoke, VA	420	$39,450
Winchester, VA-WV	400	$45,250
Lynchburg, VA	330	$59,180
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA	110	$42,840
Charlottesville, VA	70	$48,030

Top States for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Employment

These states have the highest employment of packaging and filling machine operators and tenders work.

State	Number Employed
California	45,330
Illinois	29,460
Texas	19,750
Pennsylvania	18,940
Ohio	18,870
New York	17,530
Wisconsin	16,500
Florida	16,190
Michigan	15,750
North Carolina	13,460
Georgia	13,010
Indiana	12,260
Missouri	10,380
Kentucky	9,220
New Jersey	9,120
Washington	7,860
Minnesota	7,700
Tennessee	7,600
Iowa	7,460
Kansas	7,180

Highest-Paying States for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

These states pay the most for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders.

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

Skills

Key packaging and filling machine operators and tenders skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks 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.
• Tend or operate machine that packages product.
• Clean, oil, and make minor adjustments or repairs to machinery and equipment, such as opening valves or setting guides.
• Regulate machine flow, speed, or temperature.
• Adjust machine components and machine tension and pressure according to size or processing angle of product.

Work Activities

• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Getting Information
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Processing Information
• Training and Teaching Others
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Controlling Machines and Processes

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Related occupations to packaging and filling machine operators and tenders include:

• Maintenance Workers, Machinery
• Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
• Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers

Also Known As

Ampoule Filler, Ampoule Sealer, Apple Press Operator, Assembly Line Worker, Assembly Person, Assembly Worker, Auto Roller, Automatic Cigar Wrapper Tender, Automatic Packer Operator, BB Shot Packer, Bag Bundler, Bag Loader Machine Operator, Bagging Machine Operator, Baler, Baler Operator.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-9111.00