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The differences between packagers and handle machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a packager has an average salary of $31,506, which is higher than the $29,598 average annual salary of a handle machine operator.
The top three skills for a packager include basic math, package product and work ethic. The most important skills for a handle machine operator are forklifts, cranes, and production lines.
| Packager | Handle Machine Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $31,506 | $29,598 |
| Hourly rate | $15.15 | $14.23 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 3,674 | 110,258 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| 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 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.
Packagers and handle machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Packager | Handle Machine Operator | |
| Average salary | $31,506 | $29,598 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $45,000 | Between $23,000 And $36,000 |
| Highest paying City | Plymouth, MN | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | McGuireWoods | Land O'Lakes |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a packager and a handle machine operator in terms of educational background:
| Packager | Handle Machine Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between packagers' and handle machine operators' demographics:
| Packager | Handle Machine Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.3% Female, 47.7% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| 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, 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% |