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The differences between packagers and filler operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a filler operator has an average salary of $37,729, which is higher than the $31,506 average annual salary of a packager.
The top three skills for a packager include basic math, package product and work ethic. The most important skills for a filler operator are quality checks, food safety, and pallets.
| Packager | Filler Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $31,506 | $37,729 |
| Hourly rate | $15.15 | $18.14 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 3,674 | 65,876 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Packagers are skilled employees who place completed products into containers and prepare them for shipment by weighing and labeling each package. As the final checkpoints between buyer and manufacturer, packagers must ensure that items are in proper working order as well as discard defective items according to company procedures. They must perform quality control and assist team leaders to verify that all quality standards of all products are being maintained. Packagers must also follow the occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) packing guidelines to ensure the safety of workers and the facility.
A filler operator works with the packaging end of a production line. The filler's task is to fill containers with the required number of products before packaging and shipping. The filler also operates filling machines and makes the necessary adjustments to ensure consistency. They are also responsible for inventory and maintenance of filling process equipment. They must work well under pressure and be scrupulously accurate.
Packagers and filler operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Packager | Filler Operator | |
| Average salary | $31,506 | $37,729 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $45,000 | Between $30,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Plymouth, MN | Saint Paul, MN |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | McGuireWoods | Nestlé |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a packager and a filler operator in terms of educational background:
| Packager | Filler Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between packagers' and filler operators' demographics:
| Packager | Filler Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.3% Female, 47.7% | Male, 68.7% Female, 31.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 7.9% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |