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Packaging operator salary
Average packaging operator salary
$16.48
Average Packaging Operator Salary
The average salary for a packaging operator in the United States is approximately $34,269 per year, translating to about $16.48 per hour. This compensation reflects the essential work these individuals contribute to product assembly and quality assurance in manufacturing and distribution sectors.
How Experience Affects Salary
Entry-level packaging operators may start with lower wages, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $40,000 annually. The increase in pay often correlates with skills and responsibilities undertaken.
State-by-State Salary Variations
Geographical differences significantly impact earnings. For instance, packaging operators in states like California and New York typically earn higher wages compared to those in less populated areas. Researching salaries by state can provide insights into the best locations for job seekers.
Job Opportunities
Job openings for packaging operators can be found across various industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. Utilizing platforms like Zippia enables candidates to explore available positions and salary insights tailored to their experience.
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Where can a Packaging Operator earn more?
Packaging operator salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level packaging operator | $26,000 | $12.51 |
| Mid-level packaging operator | $33,200 | $15.97 |
| Senior-level packaging operator | $40,400 | $19.41 |
Packaging operator salary estimates from across the web
Average packaging operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for packaging operators are North Dakota, Kansas, and Minnesota. The lowest average packaging operator salary states are North Carolina, West Virginia, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for packaging operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $40,172 | $19.31 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $41,746 | $20.07 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $42,551 | $20.46 |
| 4 | Ohio | $37,022 | $17.80 |
| 5 | Kansas | $42,416 | $20.39 |
| 6 | Indiana | $36,744 | $17.67 |
| 7 | Missouri | $39,464 | $18.97 |
| 8 | Illinois | $38,714 | $18.61 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $37,273 | $17.92 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $36,287 | $17.45 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $40,021 | $19.24 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $37,439 | $18.00 |
| 13 | Alaska | $38,342 | $18.43 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| 15 | Nevada | $37,443 | $18.00 |
| 16 | Michigan | $36,542 | $17.57 |
| 17 | Idaho | $38,477 | $18.50 |
| 18 | Iowa | $35,910 | $17.26 |
| 19 | Utah | $35,655 | $17.14 |
| 20 | Maine | $35,538 | $17.09 |
| 21 | Oregon | $37,306 | $17.94 |
| 22 | Colorado | $37,912 | $18.23 |
| 23 | Washington | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $34,429 | $16.55 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $34,107 | $16.40 |
| 26 | Montana | $36,544 | $17.57 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $34,141 | $16.41 |
| 28 | California | $36,484 | $17.54 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $35,166 | $16.91 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $33,548 | $16.13 |
| 31 | Arizona | $35,180 | $16.91 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $32,157 | $15.46 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $33,050 | $15.89 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $35,273 | $16.96 |
| 35 | Delaware | $35,418 | $17.03 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $32,501 | $15.63 |
| 37 | Vermont | $33,095 | $15.91 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $33,971 | $16.33 |
| 39 | Georgia | $31,793 | $15.29 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $32,184 | $15.47 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $30,921 | $14.87 |
| 42 | Texas | $32,450 | $15.60 |
| 43 | Maryland | $33,656 | $16.18 |
| 44 | New York | $32,696 | $15.72 |
| 45 | Virginia | $32,124 | $15.44 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $30,858 | $14.84 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $31,287 | $15.04 |
| 48 | Alabama | $27,871 | $13.40 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $29,864 | $14.36 |
| 50 | Florida | $27,975 | $13.45 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $23,206 | $11.16 |
Highest paying cities for packaging operators
The highest-paying cities for packaging operators are Grand Forks, ND, Olathe, KS, and Minneapolis, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Forks, ND | $42,837 | $20.59 |
| 2 | Olathe, KS | $42,522 | $20.44 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $41,763 | $20.08 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $40,190 | $19.32 |
| 5 | Kansas City, MO | $39,908 | $19.19 |
| 6 | North Chicago, IL | $39,125 | $18.81 |
| 7 | Broomfield, CO | $38,019 | $18.28 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $37,420 | $17.99 |
| 10 | Fairfield, CA | $36,962 | $17.77 |
| 11 | Grand Rapids, MI | $36,935 | $17.76 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $36,486 | $17.54 |
| 13 | Easton, PA | $36,416 | $17.51 |
| 14 | Salt Lake City, UT | $35,702 | $17.16 |
| 15 | Portland, ME | $35,597 | $17.11 |
| 16 | Hagerstown, MD | $34,106 | $16.40 |
| 17 | Fort Worth, TX | $32,731 | $15.74 |
| 18 | Rogers, AR | $32,665 | $15.70 |
| 19 | New York, NY | $32,597 | $15.67 |
| 20 | Murfreesboro, TN | $32,075 | $15.42 |
Packaging Operators are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Packaging operator salary details
A packaging operator's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $42,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a packaging operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| Average | $34,269 | $2,856 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying packaging operator jobs
The highest paying types of packaging operators are relief operator, process operator, and operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cell Operator | $37,866 | $3,155 | $18.20 | 66,532 |
| Filler Operator | $37,729 | $3,144 | $18.14 | 65,876 |
| Relief Operator | $42,693 | $3,558 | $20.53 | 64,469 |
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
| Production Line Operator | $33,261 | $2,772 | $15.99 | 155,014 |
| Mixer Operator | $36,250 | $3,021 | $17.43 | 51,281 |
Top companies hiring packaging operators now:
Which companies pay packaging operators the most?
Packaging operator salaries at Nestlé and SunOpta are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average packaging operator salary at companies like BD and fairlife are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nestlé | $46,808 | $22.50 |
| 2 | SunOpta | $46,332 | $22.27 |
| 3 | BD | $45,906 | $22.07 |
| 4 | fairlife | $45,674 | $21.96 |
| 5 | Dairy Farmers of America | $45,449 | $21.85 |
| 6 | Kemps | $45,185 | $21.72 |
| 7 | Seneca Foods | $45,103 | $21.68 |
| 8 | California Dairies | $44,515 | $21.40 |
| 9 | Schreiber Foods | $43,863 | $21.09 |
| 10 | Bunge | $43,506 | $20.92 |
| 11 | Land O'Lakes | $43,422 | $20.88 |
| 12 | J.R. Simplot | $42,916 | $20.63 |
| 13 | Mars | $42,674 | $20.52 |
| 14 | Pacific Foods | $42,366 | $20.37 |
| 15 | PepsiCo | $42,322 | $20.35 |
| 16 | Cargill | $42,283 | $20.33 |
| 17 | Deschutes Brewery | $42,091 | $20.24 |
| 18 | Post Holdings | $42,018 | $20.20 |
| 19 | ASR Group | $42,015 | $20.20 |
| 20 | Reckitt Benckiser | $41,975 | $20.18 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Packaging Operator salary by industry
The average packaging operator salary varies across industries:
- The average packaging operator salary in the manufacturing industry is $39,011, the highest of any industry.
- The average packaging operator salary in the finance industry is $38,891.
- Packaging operators in the professional industry earn an average salary of $32,063, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for packaging operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $39,011 | $18.76 |
| 2 | Finance | $38,891 | $18.70 |
| 3 | Pharmaceutical | $38,255 | $18.39 |
| 4 | Transportation | $35,498 | $17.07 |
| 5 | Professional | $32,063 | $15.41 |
High paying packaging operator jobs
Packaging operator salary trends
The average packaging operator salary has risen by $7,371 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average packaging operator earned $26,898 annually, but today, they earn $34,269 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for packaging operators over the last decade.
Compare packaging operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average packaging operator salary over time
Compare packaging operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Packaging operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,300 | $16.48 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | $32,500 | $15.64 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $31,700 | $15.22 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $30,800 | $14.81 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $29,700 | $14.28 | +4.3% |
Recently added packaging operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canarchy Holding Co LLC | AM Packaging Operator-Oskar Blues Brewery | Longmont, CO | 06/30/2025 | $43,305 |
| Abbvie | Packaging Operator III, MD Packaging, B2 Shift (6PM AM) | Waco, TX | 06/29/2025 | $32,349 |
| Thorne Research Inc. | Packaging Operator I-1St. Shift | Summerville, SC | 06/29/2025 | $39,653 |
| Alaskan Brewing Company | Packaging Operator | Juneau, AK | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Ingredients Plus | Packaging Operator-1St. Shift | Lakeville, NY | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Manpowergroup | Packaging Operator | Covington, GA | 06/28/2025 | $33,601 |
| Continental Mills | Lead Packaging Operator-Second Shift | Manhattan, KS | 06/28/2025 | $50,505 |
| Boulevard Brewing Company | Packaging Operator | Kansas City, MO | 06/28/2025 | $35,479 |
| Colgate-Palmolive Company | Packaging Operator | Clinton, OK | 06/27/2025 | $38,943 |
| Kelly Services | Assembly & Packaging Operator | Bath, NY | 06/27/2025 | $38,088 |
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