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The differences between packaging managers and plant managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a packaging manager, becoming a plant manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a plant manager has an average salary of $113,843, which is higher than the $109,833 average annual salary of a packaging manager.
The top three skills for a packaging manager include continuous improvement, project management and product development. The most important skills for a plant manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and safety program.
| Packaging Manager | Plant Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $109,833 | $113,843 |
| Hourly rate | $52.80 | $54.73 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 15,737 | 275,962 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A packaging manager is a person whose job is to supervise a packaging operation, usually in a factory or warehouse. You will be responsible for overseeing other employees within the operation and ensuring that goods are packed correctly and in time for distribution. Packaging managers are responsible for proper maintenance of packaging machines, scheduling staff for efficiency, and ensuring the availability of packaging materials and goods to be packaged. Overseeing the recruitment and training of employees for the packaging line is an added role.
In general, plant managers are responsible for the entire operations in a manufacturing plant. Plant managers plan, direct, organize, and run the optimum operations of the plant daily. They create and execute organizational or departmental goals procedures, and policies. They aim to increase the manufacturing production and the capacity and flexibility of its assets while keeping its current quality standards and unnecessary costs. They are expected to have a better understanding of the manufacturing industry like equipment use and mechanical aptitude.
Packaging managers and plant managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Packaging Manager | Plant Manager | |
| Average salary | $109,833 | $113,843 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $166,000 | Between $85,000 And $152,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | Koch Industries |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between a packaging manager and a plant manager in terms of educational background:
| Packaging Manager | Plant Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between packaging managers' and plant managers' demographics:
| Packaging Manager | Plant Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |