How to hire a packaging technician

How to hire a packaging technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step packaging technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a packaging technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new packaging technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a packaging technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the packaging technician you need to hire. Certain packaging technician roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A packaging technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, packaging technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of packaging technicians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Packaging Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Packaging Technician		$13-21
   Filler Operator	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... Show more	$14-22
   Relief Operator	A relief operator job depends on the institution or organization. Their main jobs include examining, measuring, and weighing materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices such as rulers, micrometers, or scales... Show more	$17-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Basic Math
   • GMP
   • Math
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Hand Tools
   • Data Entry
   • Safety Procedures
   • FDA
   • Work Ethic
   • Pallets
   • Quality Checks
   • Safety Standards
   • Dexterity
   • Quality Standards

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform machining, including but not limit to components using mills, lathes and surface grinders to accomplish repairs.
   • Complete accurate and timely documentation to comply with FDA and GMP regulations
   • Operate equipment in compliance with company and OSHA standards.
   • Team member of various over-the-counter lines to prepare package from pill form to truck-ready, with respect to FDA requirements.
   • Package pharmaceuticals, maintain a sterile environment and ensure OSHA standards, work in the clean room and freezer areas.
   • Conduct maintenance to material grinders.

   More packaging technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your packaging technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A packaging technician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, packaging technicians' average salary in wyoming is 46% less than in minnesota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level packaging technicians earn 36% less than senior-level packaging technicians.
   • Certifications. A packaging technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a packaging technician's salary.

   Average packaging technician salary

   $35,973yearly

   $17.29 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level packaging technician salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average packaging technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Minnesota	$44,547	$21
   2	Oregon	$40,229	$19
   3	Kentucky	$39,888	$19
   4	Massachusetts	$39,452	$19
   5	Missouri	$38,701	$19
   6	Ohio	$38,615	$19
   7	Wisconsin	$38,441	$18
   8	Pennsylvania	$38,256	$18
   9	California	$37,657	$18
   10	North Carolina	$37,639	$18
   11	Illinois	$37,024	$18
   12	Colorado	$36,818	$18
   13	Maryland	$36,747	$18
   14	Washington	$36,527	$18
   15	Tennessee	$36,006	$17
   16	New Jersey	$35,755	$17
   17	Indiana	$35,563	$17
   18	Virginia	$35,547	$17
   19	North Dakota	$35,194	$17
   20	Georgia	$35,020	$17

   Average packaging technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Dairy Farmers of America	$44,402	$21.35	89
   2	fairlife	$43,313	$20.82	4
   3	Reckitt Benckiser	$42,891	$20.62	6
   4	Pfizer	$42,823	$20.59	16
   5	Deloitte	$42,498	$20.43
   6	Zoetis	$42,392	$20.38	26
   7	Google	$42,345	$20.36	4
   8	BD	$42,112	$20.25	6
   9	American Crystal Sugar	$42,016	$20.20	5
   10	Colgate-Palmolive	$41,984	$20.18	12
   11	Fresh Express	$41,829	$20.11	7
   12	FLIR Systems	$41,782	$20.09	16
   13	DuPont	$41,670	$20.03	17
   14	Shearer's Foods	$41,585	$19.99	9
   15	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$41,394	$19.90	28
   16	Mary's Gone Crackers	$40,864	$19.65
   17	Novartis	$40,858	$19.64	14
   18	AbbVie	$40,817	$19.62	15
   19	Upsher-Smith Laboratories	$40,805	$19.62	1
   20	Cargill	$40,792	$19.61	103

4. Writing a packaging technician job description

   A packaging technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a packaging technician job description:

   Packaging technician job description example

   The Chemical Packaging Plant is a fast-paced environment and high-volume operation, responsible for manufacturing cleaning products for BISSELL. There are multiple packaging lines, which run 24 hours a day, up to 6 days a week. The standard work shift for a technician is 8 hours per day.
   
   As a Packaging Technician I, you will be part of a collaborative team with opportunities for career advancement by leveraging the BISSELL Skill System that allows for a variety of promotional paths. In this role, you will have the opportunity to learn and develop within a liquid filling and packaging environment. The process includes filling, labeling, and packaging bottles by following standard operating procedures and conducting quality checks. In addition, you will assist in the changeover of automated packaging lines.
   
   As you continue to develop in your career, you will train other team members on technical skills and standard operating procedures while also providing team member feedback to support their development.
   Responsibilities
   
   Strong attention to detail, ensuring a heightened focus on safety and reporting unsafe conditions or accidents. Start-up and shut-down equipment, monitor performance, efficiently operate equipment, complete required documentation, and assist in changeovers. Unpack, repack, and perform other tasks to prepare product for E-Commerce. Report issues when they arise - this should be done quickly to minimize any impact on the efficiency of production. Ensure product quality according to specifications. Maintain cleanliness of equipment and work area. Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications
   
   Equipment Used:
   Liquid fillers, capper, date coders, induction sealers, reject mechanisms, labelers, drop packers, carton erector, manual, and automatic tape machine. Hand tools for set-up and repair.
   
   Requirements:
   HS Diploma/GED or relevant experience in lieu of Must be capable of lifting 0 - 50 lbs. Continuous improvement mindset Adaptable and flexible Dependable and reliable Ability to act as a team player.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right packaging technician for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your packaging technician job on Zippia to find and recruit packaging technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting packaging technicians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new packaging technician

   Once you've decided on a perfect packaging technician candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new packaging technician. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a packaging technician?