Packaging Science
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Types of Degrees Packaging Science Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many packaging science graduations there were in 2021-2022 for each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Bachelor’s Degree | 333 |
What Packaging Science Majors Need to Know
O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to packaging science and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.
Knowledge Areas for Packaging Science Majors
This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Skills for Packaging Science Majors
When studying packaging science, you’ll learn many skills that will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs - even those that do not require a degree in the field. The following is a list of some of the most common skills needed for careers associated with this major:

- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Abilities for Packaging Science Majors
As a packaging science major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:

- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
What Can You Do With a Packaging Science Major?
People with a packaging science degree often go into the following careers:
Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Industrial Engineering Technicians | 0.6% | $55,460 |
Manufacturing Production Technicians | 5.2% | $63,200 |
How Much Do Packaging Science Majors Make?
Salaries According to BLS
Packaging Science majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $65,720 to $113,680 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Packaging Science
Some degrees associated with packaging science may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to packaging science have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
Less than a High School Diploma | 1.5% |
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 5.6% |
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 5.9% |
Some College Courses | 8.8% |
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 10.5% |
Bachelor’s Degree | 36.1% |
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 3.9% |
Master’s Degree | 17.4% |
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. | 2.7% |
Doctoral Degree | 5.8% |
Post-Doctoral Training | 1.5% |
Online Packaging Science Programs
The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
---|---|---|
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 0 | 0 |
Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | 0 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
Associate’s Degree | 0 | 0 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 2 | 1 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 0 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 6 | 0 |
Post-Master’s | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 1 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Packaging Science Worth It?
The median salary for a packaging science grad is $76,990 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 93% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $741,800 after 20 years!

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Trades Related to Packaging Science
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to packaging science.
Major | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Industrial & Management Engineering | 5,903 |
Other Engineering-Related Fields | 152 |
Engineering Design | 120 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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