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The role of a filler operator is essential in ensuring the efficient packaging of products across various sectors, particularly in food and beverage. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is $37,729 annually, which equates to about $18 per hour. Salaries can vary widely based on experience, location, and the specific industry. For instance, fillers in high-demand areas or specialized sectors tend to earn more.
Entry-level positions typically start lower, while seasoned operators can command significantly higher salaries. Those with specialized skills or certifications may also find opportunities that offer better compensation. Additionally, understanding regional salary differences can be crucial; states with higher living costs often provide salaries that reflect this.
For example, states like California and New York often report higher average salaries for fillers compared to states with lower costs of living. Researching these factors can empower job seekers to make informed career decisions and negotiate effectively during the hiring process.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level filler operator | $28,700 | $13.78 |
| Mid-level filler operator | $36,600 | $17.59 |
| Senior-level filler operator | $44,400 | $21.37 |
The highest-paying states for filler operators are Minnesota, Kansas, and Washington. The lowest average filler operator salary states are Virginia, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $46,964 | $22.58 |
| 2 | Indiana | $42,691 | $20.52 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $44,579 | $21.43 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $42,251 | $20.31 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $41,881 | $20.14 |
| 6 | Kansas | $46,958 | $22.58 |
| 7 | Maine | $42,627 | $20.49 |
| 8 | Iowa | $40,539 | $19.49 |
| 9 | Michigan | $43,091 | $20.72 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $43,096 | $20.72 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $44,656 | $21.47 |
| 12 | Missouri | $41,261 | $19.84 |
| 13 | Utah | $39,930 | $19.20 |
| 14 | Ohio | $39,021 | $18.76 |
| 15 | Washington | $45,539 | $21.89 |
| 16 | Oregon | $43,564 | $20.94 |
| 17 | Idaho | $42,074 | $20.23 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $40,198 | $19.33 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $39,802 | $19.14 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $38,318 | $18.42 |
| 21 | Alaska | $39,666 | $19.07 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $38,929 | $18.72 |
| 24 | Vermont | $38,993 | $18.75 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $36,904 | $17.74 |
| 26 | Maryland | $40,110 | $19.28 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $37,703 | $18.13 |
| 28 | Illinois | $38,965 | $18.73 |
| 29 | Delaware | $39,903 | $19.18 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $38,047 | $18.29 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $35,393 | $17.02 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $39,607 | $19.04 |
| 33 | Colorado | $40,254 | $19.35 |
| 34 | New York | $40,226 | $19.34 |
| 35 | Nevada | $37,671 | $18.11 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $38,826 | $18.67 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $34,883 | $16.77 |
| 38 | California | $39,998 | $19.23 |
| 39 | Georgia | $35,367 | $17.00 |
| 40 | Arizona | $36,617 | $17.60 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $34,095 | $16.39 |
| 42 | Texas | $35,768 | $17.20 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $35,884 | $17.25 |
| 44 | Florida | $35,288 | $16.97 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $31,768 | $15.27 |
| 46 | Montana | $35,936 | $17.28 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $32,989 | $15.86 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $31,864 | $15.32 |
| 49 | Alabama | $30,718 | $14.77 |
| 50 | Virginia | $34,080 | $16.38 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $25,121 | $12.08 |
The highest-paying cities for filler operators are Saint Paul, MN, Allentown, PA, and Grand Rapids, MI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Paul, MN | $46,965 | $22.58 |
| 2 | Allentown, PA | $44,904 | $21.59 |
| 3 | Grand Rapids, MI | $43,336 | $20.83 |
| 4 | Indianapolis, IN | $42,355 | $20.36 |
| 5 | Milwaukee, WI | $42,149 | $20.26 |
| 6 | Syracuse, NY | $41,663 | $20.03 |
| 7 | Los Banos, CA | $40,406 | $19.43 |
| 8 | Greenville, SC | $40,306 | $19.38 |
| 9 | Logan, UT | $40,264 | $19.36 |
| 10 | Massillon, OH | $39,246 | $18.87 |
| 11 | Batavia, IL | $39,107 | $18.80 |
| 12 | Bridgeton, NJ | $37,294 | $17.93 |
| 13 | Hurst, TX | $35,822 | $17.22 |
| 14 | Billings, MT | $35,804 | $17.21 |
| 15 | Bradenton, FL | $35,499 | $17.07 |
| 16 | Savannah, GA | $34,836 | $16.75 |
| 17 | Homewood, AL | $30,793 | $14.80 |
A filler operator's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $46,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $37,729 | $3,144 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
The highest paying types of filler operators are relief operator, lead operator/machine operator, and process operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packaging Technician | $35,973 | $2,998 | $17.29 | 64,859 |
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | $39,819 | $3,318 | $19.14 | 162,376 |
| Manufacturing Operator | $34,457 | $2,871 | $16.57 | 97,656 |
| Pack Out Operator | $33,217 | $2,768 | $15.97 | 73,108 |
| Production Line Operator | $33,261 | $2,772 | $15.99 | 155,014 |
| Handle Machine Operator | $29,598 | $2,467 | $14.23 | 110,258 |
Top companies hiring filler operators now:
Filler operator salaries at Nestlé and SunOpta are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average filler operator salary at companies like Prairie Farms Dairy and Kemps are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nestlé | $46,176 | $22.20 |
| 2 | SunOpta | $45,728 | $21.98 |
| 3 | Prairie Farms Dairy | $45,563 | $21.91 |
| 4 | Kemps | $45,456 | $21.85 |
| 5 | Dairy Farmers of America | $45,359 | $21.81 |
| 6 | California Dairies | $44,373 | $21.33 |
| 7 | Schreiber Foods | $44,320 | $21.31 |
| 8 | Reckitt Benckiser | $43,861 | $21.09 |
| 9 | Upstate Niagara Cooperative | $43,260 | $20.80 |
| 10 | PepsiCo | $43,022 | $20.68 |
| 11 | Intercon Chemical | $42,992 | $20.67 |
| 12 | Pacific Foods | $42,811 | $20.58 |
| 13 | Leprino Foods | $42,727 | $20.54 |
| 14 | Steuben Foods | $42,500 | $20.43 |
| 15 | Abbott | $42,477 | $20.42 |
| 16 | Campbells | $42,286 | $20.33 |
| 17 | Sanmina | $42,249 | $20.31 |
| 18 | Byrne Dairy | $41,943 | $20.16 |
| 19 | HP Hood | $41,908 | $20.15 |
| 20 | PPG | $41,808 | $20.10 |
The average filler operator salary has risen by $8,114 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average filler operator earned $29,615 annually, but today, they earn $37,729 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for filler operators over the last decade.
Compare filler operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare filler operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $37,700 | $18.14 | +5.1% |
| 2025 | $35,800 | $17.22 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $34,900 | $16.76 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $33,900 | $16.31 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $32,700 | $15.72 | +4.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Regent | Filling Operator I (11Pm AM) | Shirley, NY | 06/30/2025 | $54,241 |
| FGF | Filler Operator | Brownsburg, IN | 06/27/2025 | $50,088 |
| MDVA | Filler Operator | Newport News, VA | 06/26/2025 | $42,784 |
| Dairy Farmers of America | Filler Operator | San Antonio, TX | 06/25/2025 | $38,610 |
| Dairy Farmers of America | N8 Filler Operator | Le Mars, IA | 06/25/2025 | $47,438 |
| Dairy Farmers of America | Filler/Operator 1St. Shift | Wilbraham, MA | 06/25/2025 | $41,636 |
| Bachmann Chemical and Engineering | Temporary Process & Filling Operator | Torrington, CT | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Nestle International | Aseptic Filler Operator Job Details | Nestle Operational Services Worldwide SA | Savannah, GA | 06/24/2025 | $45,914 |
| Msccn | Filling Operator I (7AM PM) | Shirley, NY | 06/22/2025 | $54,241 |
| Aerotek | Filling Operator | Cherry Hill, NJ | 06/21/2025 | $48,001 |
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