Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between pack machine operators and handle machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pack machine operator has an average salary of $35,157, which is higher than the $29,598 average annual salary of a handle machine operator.
The top three skills for a pack machine operator include basic math, defective products and team-oriented environment. The most important skills for a handle machine operator are forklifts, cranes, and production lines.
| Pack Machine Operator | Handle Machine Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $35,157 | $29,598 |
| Hourly rate | $16.90 | $14.23 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 68,876 | 110,258 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 54% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A pack machine operator is an employee who is responsible for operating and maintaining packaging machines to prepare industrial and consumer products for storage or shipment. Pack machine operators observe machine operations to ensure quality and conformity of filled or packaged products are up to standards. They monitor the production line to avoid problems such as pile-ups or jams while removing defective products and packaging material. Pack machine operators must also conduct maintenance of the packaging machines on a weekly to monthly basis.
A handle machine operator is responsible for operating production machines, conducting preventive maintenance, and ensuring optimal performance to prevent delays in orders or project deliverables. Handle machine operators analyze schematics and blueprints, inspect components for inconsistencies, replace defective parts, and upgrade systems as needed for higher operational efficiency. They also create resolution records for reference and manage maintenance standards to prevent downtimes. A handle machine operator must have excellent mechanical skills, especially on identifying machine problems and following specifications.
Pack machine operators and handle machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pack Machine Operator | Handle Machine Operator | |
| Average salary | $35,157 | $29,598 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $43,000 | Between $23,000 And $36,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | Reser's Fine Foods | Land O'Lakes |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a pack machine operator and a handle machine operator in terms of educational background:
| Pack Machine Operator | Handle Machine Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 54% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between pack machine operators' and handle machine operators' demographics:
| Pack Machine Operator | Handle Machine Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 7.1% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |