Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Salary
Production Occupations · 379K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$43,220
Median hourly
$21
Average annual
$44,590
Typical range
$33,390–$60,030
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders is $43,220 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $21 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products..
Most earn between $33,390 and $60,030 a year. There are roughly 379K people employed as packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders.
- Hourly
- $20.78
- Daily
- $166
- Weekly
- $831
- Bi-weekly
- $1,662
- Monthly
- $3,602
- Annual
- $43,220
$43,220 a year is around the 50th percentile for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenderss. The median is $43,220.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1New Hampshire$49,450
- 2Wyoming$48,890
- 3Missouri$48,070
- 4Maine$47,970
- 5North Dakota$47,390
- 6Idaho$46,720
- 7Vermont$46,670
- 8West Virginia$46,410
- 9Nebraska$46,220
- 10Wisconsin$46,220
- 11Colorado$46,010
- 12Iowa$45,660
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Fort Collins-Loveland, CO$79,800
- 2Salisbury, MD$69,060
- 3Cedar Rapids, IA$67,700
- 4Tuscaloosa, AL$61,680
- 5Owensboro, KY$61,250
- 6Eau Claire, WI$60,340
- 7Decatur, IL$59,160
- 8Traverse City, MI$54,020
- 9Manchester-Nashua, NH$53,540
- 10Lewiston-Auburn, ME$51,980
- 11Twin Falls, ID$51,430
- 12Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$51,100
Related job titles
Employers advertise Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,280
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers$41,220
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders$46,460
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,760
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,270
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,570
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,610
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,540
What a Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders does
- Stop or reset machines when malfunctions occur, clear machine jams, and report malfunctions to a supervisor.
- Observe machine operations to ensure quality and conformity of filled or packaged products to standards.
- Monitor the production line, watching for problems such as pile-ups, jams, or glue that isn't sticking properly.
- Inspect and remove defective products and packaging material.
- Start machine by engaging controls.
- Tend or operate machine that packages product.
- Clean, oil, and make minor adjustments or repairs to machinery and equipment, such as opening valves or setting guides.
- Regulate machine flow, speed, or temperature.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders make?
- The median annual wage for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders is $43,220 ($21 per hour). Pay ranges from about $33,390 at the 10th percentile to $60,030 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $44,590, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenderss the most?
- New Hampshire has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $49,450.
- Is Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 379K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders do?
- Stop or reset machines when malfunctions occur, clear machine jams, and report malfunctions to a supervisor.; Observe machine operations to ensure quality and conformity of filled or packaged products to standards.; Monitor the production line, watching for problems such as pile-ups, jams, or glue that isn't sticking properly..