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The differences between packaging associates and handle machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a packaging associate has an average salary of $31,519, which is higher than the $29,598 average annual salary of a handle machine operator.
The top three skills for a packaging associate include pallets, defective products and basic math. The most important skills for a handle machine operator are forklifts, cranes, and production lines.
| Packaging Associate | Handle Machine Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $31,519 | $29,598 |
| Hourly rate | $15.15 | $14.23 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 40,179 | 110,258 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Packaging associates are skilled employees who are responsible for wrapping material around consumer items. This serves to protect and clean products, making them marketable. These associates must perform maintenance on the packaging equipment to ensure that they are running efficiently with minimal downtime. They must inspect completed products for defects and abnormalities to satisfy their customers. Packaging associates must also communicate with technicians and supervisors to rectify problems and ensure that the products are with standards and following their customers' requirements.
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.
Packaging associates and handle machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Packaging Associate | Handle Machine Operator | |
| Average salary | $31,519 | $29,598 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $39,000 | Between $23,000 And $36,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | PepsiCo | Land O'Lakes |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a packaging associate and a handle machine operator in terms of educational background:
| Packaging Associate | Handle Machine Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between packaging associates' and handle machine operators' demographics:
| Packaging Associate | Handle Machine Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.9% Female, 42.1% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 7.9% White, 60.4% 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% |