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The average salary for a packer in the United States is approximately $30,118 per year or $14.48 per hour. This figure varies widely based on factors such as geographic location, industry, and years of experience. For example, packers in states like California and New York often earn more than the national average due to higher living costs.
Entry-level packers typically earn less than those with several years of experience. While newcomers may expect to start at around $28,000 annually, experienced packers can see salaries exceeding $35,000. This disparity emphasizes the importance of gaining experience and specialized skills in the field.
In addition to geographical differences, specific industries also pay higher salaries. For instance, packers in the food manufacturing and logistics sectors often have better pay scales compared to those in retail. Understanding these trends can help job seekers target their applications effectively and maximize their earning potential.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level packer | $26,700 | $12.86 |
| Mid-level packer | $31,600 | $15.21 |
| Senior-level packer | $33,300 | $16.01 |
The average packer salary in Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average packer salary states are Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $32,228 | $15.49 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $32,297 | $15.53 |
| 3 | Iowa | $31,676 | $15.23 |
| 4 | Idaho | $34,234 | $16.46 |
| 5 | Indiana | $31,335 | $15.06 |
| 6 | Illinois | $32,655 | $15.70 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $32,963 | $15.85 |
| 8 | Montana | $32,789 | $15.76 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $33,210 | $15.97 |
| 10 | Ohio | $30,808 | $14.81 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $30,306 | $14.57 |
| 12 | Utah | $31,694 | $15.24 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| 14 | Washington | $34,539 | $16.61 |
| 15 | Michigan | $30,707 | $14.76 |
| 16 | California | $32,821 | $15.78 |
| 17 | Maine | $30,875 | $14.84 |
| 18 | Maryland | $31,947 | $15.36 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $29,790 | $14.32 |
| 20 | Vermont | $30,621 | $14.72 |
| 21 | Arizona | $29,843 | $14.35 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $30,479 | $14.65 |
| 23 | New York | $31,816 | $15.30 |
| 24 | Missouri | $30,358 | $14.60 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $28,839 | $13.86 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $30,238 | $14.54 |
| 27 | Colorado | $31,505 | $15.15 |
| 28 | Oregon | $31,345 | $15.07 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $30,138 | $14.49 |
| 30 | Nevada | $29,020 | $13.95 |
| 31 | Connecticut | $31,001 | $14.90 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $26,412 | $12.70 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $29,617 | $14.24 |
| 34 | Alaska | $29,682 | $14.27 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $28,797 | $13.84 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $26,049 | $12.52 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $30,146 | $14.49 |
| 38 | Virginia | $27,237 | $13.09 |
| 39 | Georgia | $25,426 | $12.22 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $25,924 | $12.46 |
| 41 | Texas | $25,494 | $12.26 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $27,302 | $13.13 |
| 43 | Delaware | $26,578 | $12.78 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $25,906 | $12.45 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $25,783 | $12.40 |
| 46 | Kansas | $23,045 | $11.08 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $23,064 | $11.09 |
| 48 | Alabama | $25,051 | $12.04 |
| 49 | District of Columbia | $26,925 | $12.94 |
| 50 | Florida | $23,708 | $11.40 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $21,057 | $10.12 |
The highest-paying cities for packers are Kent, WA, Wheeling, IL, and Los Angeles, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kent, WA | $34,519 | $16.60 |
| 2 | Wheeling, IL | $32,979 | $15.86 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $32,554 | $15.65 |
| 4 | Iowa City, IA | $31,615 | $15.20 |
| 5 | Aurora, CO | $31,486 | $15.14 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $31,360 | $15.08 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $31,071 | $14.94 |
| 8 | Ridgefield, CT | $31,039 | $14.92 |
| 9 | Grand Rapids, MI | $30,840 | $14.83 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $30,591 | $14.71 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $30,384 | $14.61 |
| 12 | Reading, PA | $30,363 | $14.60 |
| 13 | Cherry Hill, NJ | $30,128 | $14.48 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $29,901 | $14.38 |
| 15 | Bowling Green, KY | $28,283 | $13.60 |
| 16 | Winchester, VA | $28,169 | $13.54 |
| 17 | Memphis, TN | $26,448 | $12.72 |
| 18 | Fort Worth, TX | $25,704 | $12.36 |
| 19 | Marietta, GA | $25,545 | $12.28 |
| 20 | Jacksonville, FL | $24,300 | $11.68 |
Packers are the most in-demand in these five cities:
A packer's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $37,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| Average | $30,118 | $2,510 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of packers are grocery bagger, jack, and wrapper.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Line Up Worker | $27,868 | $2,322 | $13.40 | 78,644 |
| Case Picker/Temp | $33,549 | $2,796 | $16.13 | 75,374 |
| Wrapper | $34,424 | $2,869 | $16.55 | 1,173 |
| Bagger | $34,119 | $2,843 | $16.40 | 3,411 |
| Picker And Packer | $30,841 | $2,570 | $14.83 | 67,478 |
| Pack Out Operator | $33,217 | $2,768 | $15.97 | 73,108 |
Top companies hiring packers now:
Packer salaries at Steel Dynamics and Rich Products are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average packer salary at companies like Cargill and Community Coffee are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steel Dynamics | $36,691 | $17.64 |
| 2 | Rich Products | $36,301 | $17.45 |
| 3 | Cargill | $35,475 | $17.06 |
| 4 | Community Coffee | $35,389 | $17.01 |
| 5 | Metals USA | $35,022 | $16.84 |
| 6 | PepsiCo | $34,962 | $16.81 |
| 7 | Scientific Games | $34,877 | $16.77 |
| 8 | Hain Celestial | $34,511 | $16.59 |
| 9 | TreeHouse Foods | $34,290 | $16.49 |
| 10 | Utz Brands | $34,162 | $16.42 |
| 11 | Church & Dwight Co. | $34,075 | $16.38 |
| 12 | Henry Schein | $33,723 | $16.21 |
| 13 | Woodgrain | $33,695 | $16.20 |
| 14 | Post Holdings | $33,661 | $16.18 |
| 15 | Mannington Mills | $33,457 | $16.09 |
| 16 | Sonoco | $33,397 | $16.06 |
| 17 | Amazon | $33,367 | $16.04 |
| 18 | Apache Mills | $33,359 | $16.04 |
| 19 | Amcor | $33,336 | $16.03 |
| 20 | MSC Industrial Direct Co | $33,265 | $15.99 |
The average packer salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $33,075 | $15.90 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $30,585 | $14.70 |
| 3 | Transportation | $30,362 | $14.60 |
| 4 | Retail | $29,154 | $14.02 |
| 5 | Professional | $28,979 | $13.93 |
The average packer salary has risen by $8,783 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average packer earned $21,335 annually, but today, they earn $30,118 a year. That works out to a 27% change in pay for packers over the last decade.
Compare packer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare packer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $30,100 | $14.48 | +7.6% |
| 2025 | $27,800 | $13.38 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | $26,400 | $12.69 | +4.7% |
| 2023 | $25,200 | $12.10 | +5.5% |
| 2022 | $23,800 | $11.42 | +5.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Services | Production Packer | Brookings, SD | 06/30/2025 | $45,100 |
| American Regent | Packer (3PM PM) | Shirley, NY | 06/30/2025 | $38,756 |
| Katmai | General Laborer/Packer | Brilliant, OH | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| Shearer | Green Night Packer | Massillon, OH | 06/29/2025 | $38,213 |
| Silgan Containers | Packer PM AM | Penn Yan, NY | 06/29/2025 | $36,836 |
| Hawaiian Host | Packer (Night Shift) | Urban Honolulu, HI | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| Aerotek | Packer | Rock Island, IL | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Aerotek | Packer | Asheville, NC | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Eaton Corporation | Packer-1St. Shift | Dallas, TX | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Kohler | Plastics Packer | Brownwood, TX | 06/28/2025 | $42,575 |
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