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The differences between packaging associates and packaging operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a packaging operator has an average salary of $34,269, which is higher than the $31,519 average annual salary of a packaging associate.
The top three skills for a packaging associate include pallets, defective products and basic math. The most important skills for a packaging operator are basic math, math, and GMP.
| Packaging Associate | Packaging Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $31,519 | $34,269 |
| Hourly rate | $15.15 | $16.48 |
| Growth rate | -3% | - |
| Number of jobs | 40,179 | 85,698 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| 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.
The primary job of a packaging operator is to take the finished product and ensure that it is packaged based on the company and industry standards. You will be responsible for operating the machinery used in packaging and conducting routine inspection and preventative equipment maintenance. Other duties include product labeling, troubleshooting equipment issues on time to prevent delays, and completing packaging orders on time. As a packaging operator, you are also responsible for ensuring compliance with safety standards and operational policies.
Packaging associates and packaging operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Packaging Associate | Packaging Operator | |
| Average salary | $31,519 | $34,269 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $39,000 | Between $27,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Grand Forks, ND |
| Highest paying state | Washington | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | PepsiCo | Nestlé |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a packaging associate and a packaging operator in terms of educational background:
| Packaging Associate | Packaging Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between packaging associates' and packaging operators' demographics:
| Packaging Associate | Packaging Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.9% Female, 42.1% | Male, 59.7% Female, 40.3% |
| 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, 10.3% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 7.8% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |