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The differences between packaging technicians and pack machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a packaging technician has an average salary of $35,973, which is higher than the $35,157 average annual salary of a pack machine operator.
The top three skills for a packaging technician include basic math, GMP and math. The most important skills for a pack machine operator are basic math, defective products, and team-oriented environment.
| Packaging Technician | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $35,973 | $35,157 |
| Hourly rate | $17.29 | $16.90 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 64,859 | 68,876 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A packaging technician is responsible for planning the packaging design of various products, creating attractive outputs by utilizing software tools and applications, and ensuring that the deliverables adhere to the product's features. Packaging technicians generate new designs according to market trends and public demands. They discuss their product samples to the management team and adjust plans based on the requirements and suggestions. A packaging technician also considers the sales performance of the products to develop outputs that show high innovations, attracting customers to purchase the items, and generating more resources for revenues.
A pack machine operator is an employee who is responsible for operating and maintaining packaging machines to prepare industrial and consumer products for storage or shipment. Pack machine operators observe machine operations to ensure quality and conformity of filled or packaged products are up to standards. They monitor the production line to avoid problems such as pile-ups or jams while removing defective products and packaging material. Pack machine operators must also conduct maintenance of the packaging machines on a weekly to monthly basis.
Packaging technicians and pack machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Packaging Technician | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Average salary | $35,973 | $35,157 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $44,000 | Between $28,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Moorhead, MN | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Dairy Farmers of America | Reser's Fine Foods |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a packaging technician and a pack machine operator in terms of educational background:
| Packaging Technician | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between packaging technicians' and pack machine operators' demographics:
| Packaging Technician | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.9% Female, 37.1% | Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 8.4% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |