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The differences between packaging technicians and pack out 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 $33,217 average annual salary of a pack out operator.
The top three skills for a packaging technician include basic math, GMP and math. The most important skills for a pack out operator are pallets, safety procedures, and quality standards.
| Packaging Technician | Pack Out Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $35,973 | $33,217 |
| Hourly rate | $17.29 | $15.97 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 64,859 | 73,108 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | High School Diploma, 50% |
| 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 out operator is a manufacturing or packaging operation employee responsible for the final packaging of goods prior to shipping. Pack out operators come in at the last stage of the manufacturing process to ensure readiness. You will primarily work with machines and ensure that the right packaging standards and procedures are adhered to. The pack out operator oversees package labeling, branding, weighing, inspection and verification, and palletizing.
Packaging technicians and pack out operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Packaging Technician | Pack Out Operator | |
| Average salary | $35,973 | $33,217 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $44,000 | Between $25,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Moorhead, MN | Milwaukee, WI |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | Wisconsin |
| Best paying company | Dairy Farmers of America | Dairy Farmers of America |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Finance |
There are a few differences between a packaging technician and a pack out operator in terms of educational background:
| Packaging Technician | Pack Out Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | High School Diploma, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between packaging technicians' and pack out operators' demographics:
| Packaging Technician | Pack Out Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.9% Female, 37.1% | Male, 56.5% Female, 43.5% |
| 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, 11.7% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 6.6% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |