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Packaging associate salary
Average packaging associate salary
$15.15
Average Packaging Associate Salary
The average salary for a Packaging Associate in the United States is approximately $31,519 per year, translating to about $15 per hour. This figure can vary based on several factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific industry demand.
Salary by State
States that typically offer higher salaries for packaging associates include California, Texas, and New York, where demand for skilled workers is greater. For instance, California's average salary for this role can exceed $35,000, reflecting the higher cost of living and competitive job market.
Experience Level Impact
Entry-level packaging associates may start at lower wages, while those with several years of experience can command significantly higher salaries, often exceeding $40,000 annually. It’s beneficial for job seekers to consider gaining certifications or additional skills to enhance their earning potential.
Opportunities for Advancement
Packaging associates can explore advancement opportunities into supervisory roles or specialized positions, further increasing their earning potential and job satisfaction.
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Where can a Packaging Associate earn more?
Packaging associate salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level packaging associate | $23,900 | $11.51 |
| Mid-level packaging associate | $30,600 | $14.69 |
| Senior-level packaging associate | $37,100 | $17.85 |
Packaging associate salary estimates from across the web
Average packaging associate salary by state
The highest-paying states for packaging associates are Washington, Minnesota, and Connecticut. The lowest average packaging associate salary states are Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for packaging associates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $34,651 | $16.66 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $36,514 | $17.55 |
| 3 | Iowa | $32,032 | $15.40 |
| 4 | Illinois | $33,511 | $16.11 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $35,212 | $16.93 |
| 6 | Kansas | $33,181 | $15.95 |
| 7 | Washington | $36,729 | $17.66 |
| 8 | Ohio | $31,671 | $15.23 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $31,998 | $15.38 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $32,382 | $15.57 |
| 11 | Indiana | $31,229 | $15.01 |
| 12 | Idaho | $32,922 | $15.83 |
| 13 | Utah | $32,298 | $15.53 |
| 14 | Missouri | $32,879 | $15.81 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $34,489 | $16.58 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $31,251 | $15.02 |
| 17 | Oregon | $33,618 | $16.16 |
| 18 | Maine | $31,630 | $15.21 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $31,047 | $14.93 |
| 20 | Michigan | $30,892 | $14.85 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $30,605 | $14.71 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $31,914 | $15.34 |
| 23 | Colorado | $32,390 | $15.57 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $31,492 | $15.14 |
| 25 | California | $32,345 | $15.55 |
| 26 | Vermont | $29,455 | $14.16 |
| 27 | Nevada | $30,788 | $14.80 |
| 28 | Alaska | $33,215 | $15.97 |
| 29 | Maryland | $31,437 | $15.11 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $33,114 | $15.92 |
| 31 | Delaware | $31,275 | $15.04 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $26,987 | $12.97 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $28,300 | $13.61 |
| 34 | Arizona | $30,001 | $14.42 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $27,878 | $13.40 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $30,193 | $14.52 |
| 37 | Montana | $29,358 | $14.11 |
| 38 | New York | $29,822 | $14.34 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $30,980 | $14.89 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $26,016 | $12.51 |
| 41 | Georgia | $25,238 | $12.13 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $26,635 | $12.81 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $27,902 | $13.41 |
| 44 | Texas | $25,765 | $12.39 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $21,842 | $10.50 |
| 46 | Virginia | $25,935 | $12.47 |
| 47 | Alabama | $22,070 | $10.61 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $24,027 | $11.55 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $23,050 | $11.08 |
| 50 | Florida | $21,608 | $10.39 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $20,423 | $9.82 |
Highest paying cities for packaging associates
The highest-paying cities for packaging associates are Seattle, WA, Saint Paul, MN, and Madison, WI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $36,746 | $17.67 |
| 2 | Saint Paul, MN | $36,523 | $17.56 |
| 3 | Madison, WI | $34,705 | $16.69 |
| 4 | Fargo, ND | $34,166 | $16.43 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $33,640 | $16.17 |
| 6 | Bolingbrook, IL | $33,535 | $16.12 |
| 7 | Kansas City, KS | $33,473 | $16.09 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $33,408 | $16.06 |
| 9 | Broomfield, CO | $32,491 | $15.62 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City, UT | $32,378 | $15.57 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $32,142 | $15.45 |
| 12 | Gardena, CA | $31,972 | $15.37 |
| 13 | Portland, ME | $31,699 | $15.24 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $31,463 | $15.13 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $31,030 | $14.92 |
| 16 | Elizabethtown, KY | $30,947 | $14.88 |
| 17 | Lincoln, NE | $30,510 | $14.67 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $30,120 | $14.48 |
| 19 | Greenville, SC | $28,641 | $13.77 |
| 20 | Albuquerque, NM | $28,128 | $13.52 |
Packaging associate salary details
A packaging associate's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a packaging associate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $31,519 | $2,627 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying packaging associate jobs
The highest paying types of packaging associates are packaging specialist, relief operator, and lead operator/machine operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cell Operator | $37,866 | $3,155 | $18.20 | 66,532 |
| Relief Operator | $42,693 | $3,558 | $20.53 | 64,469 |
| Filler Operator | $37,729 | $3,144 | $18.14 | 65,876 |
| Inspector Packer | $31,345 | $2,612 | $15.07 | 33,923 |
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | $39,819 | $3,318 | $19.14 | 162,376 |
| Line Up Worker | $27,868 | $2,322 | $13.40 | 78,644 |
Top companies hiring packaging associates now:
Which companies pay packaging associates the most?
Packaging associate salaries at PepsiCo and Mars are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average packaging associate salary at companies like Rich Products and Shearer's Foods are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PepsiCo | $40,465 | $19.45 |
| 2 | Mars | $40,078 | $19.27 |
| 3 | Rich Products | $39,915 | $19.19 |
| 4 | Shearer's Foods | $39,199 | $18.85 |
| 5 | Ingredion | $38,989 | $18.74 |
| 6 | Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc | $38,983 | $18.74 |
| 7 | TreeHouse Foods | $38,309 | $18.42 |
| 8 | Promega | $37,688 | $18.12 |
| 9 | Danaher | $37,579 | $18.07 |
| 10 | Pfizer | $37,535 | $18.05 |
| 11 | PPG | $37,367 | $17.96 |
| 12 | Saint-gobain Adfors | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| 13 | Kohler Co. | $37,265 | $17.92 |
| 14 | E.W. Grobbel Sons | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| 15 | UPS | $36,777 | $17.68 |
| 16 | Tenneco | $36,407 | $17.50 |
| 17 | Stryker | $36,397 | $17.50 |
| 18 | AstenJohnson | $36,199 | $17.40 |
| 19 | Gillette | $35,367 | $17.00 |
| 20 | Perrigo | $35,030 | $16.84 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Packaging Associate salary by industry
The average packaging associate salary varies across industries:
- The average packaging associate salary in the pharmaceutical industry is $36,252, the highest of any industry.
- The average packaging associate salary in the finance industry is $36,112.
- Packaging associates in the professional industry earn an average salary of $32,811, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for packaging associates
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pharmaceutical | $36,252 | $17.43 |
| 2 | Media | $36,112 | $17.36 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $33,502 | $16.11 |
| 4 | Transportation | $33,318 | $16.02 |
| 5 | Professional | $32,811 | $15.77 |
High paying packaging associate jobs
Packaging associate salary trends
The average packaging associate salary has risen by $6,779 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average packaging associate earned $24,740 annually, but today, they earn $31,519 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for packaging associates over the last decade.
Compare packaging associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average packaging associate salary over time
Compare packaging associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Packaging associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $31,500 | $15.15 | +5.1% |
| 2025 | $29,900 | $14.39 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $29,100 | $14.00 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $28,300 | $13.63 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $27,300 | $13.13 | +4.3% |
Recently added packaging associate salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ccc | Production Packaging Associate-1St. Shift | Fresno, CA | 06/30/2025 | $39,653 |
| Pactiv Evergreen Inc. | Packaging Associate | Santa Fe Springs, CA | 06/29/2025 | $37,023 |
| Crown Laboratories, Inc. | Packaging Associate-2Nd Shift PM PM | Johnson City, TN | 06/29/2025 | $31,305 |
| Inland Packaging | Packaging Associate-3Rd Shift | La Crosse, WI | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| Aerotek | Packaging Associate | Hudson, MA | 06/28/2025 | $45,914 |
| CHS, Inc. | Packaging Associate | Fargo, ND | 06/28/2025 | $31,702 |
| Hendler Family Brewing Co | Packaging Associate | Framingham, MA | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Pactiv Evergreen Inc. | Packaging Associate I | Conyers, GA | 06/27/2025 | $35,813 |
| Ccc | Production Packaging Associate | Harvard, IL | 06/27/2025 | $35,229 |
| Alliance Industrial Solutions | Packaging Associates Needed ! Asap!-Weekly PAY! 826810 | Canfield, OH | 06/27/2025 | $35,479 |
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