Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary in the U.S.
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in the U.S. earn a median of $43,220 a year ($20.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 379,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,030 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $44,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,390 | $16.06 |
| 25th percentile | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| Median | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| 75th percentile | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,030 | $28.86 |
| Average (mean) | $44,590 | $21.44 |
Half of packaging and filling machine operators and tenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,601.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,800.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,662.31 |
| Weekly | $831.15 |
| Hourly | $20.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $49,450 | 620 |
| Wyoming | $48,890 | 360 |
| Missouri | $48,070 | 12,620 |
| Maine | $47,970 | 1,490 |
| North Dakota | $47,390 | 760 |
| Idaho | $46,720 | 3,950 |
| Vermont | $46,670 | 880 |
| West Virginia | $46,410 | 810 |
| Nebraska | $46,220 | 4,410 |
| Wisconsin | $46,220 | 16,150 |
| Colorado | $46,010 | 4,760 |
| Iowa | $45,660 | 6,990 |
| Kentucky | $45,450 | 8,640 |
| Oregon | $45,180 | 5,370 |
| Virginia | $44,950 | 6,150 |
| Kansas | $44,890 | 7,920 |
| Indiana | $44,600 | 12,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,480 | 19,340 |
| Montana | $44,350 | 380 |
| California | $44,020 | 43,430 |
| South Dakota | $43,860 | 1,000 |
| Utah | $43,780 | 6,350 |
| Maryland | $43,670 | 3,030 |
| Ohio | $43,310 | 17,850 |
| Tennessee | $43,190 | 7,400 |
| Illinois | $43,150 | 29,400 |
| Georgia | $42,920 | 11,380 |
| Washington | $41,700 | 8,450 |
| Michigan | $41,690 | 10,940 |
| North Carolina | $41,150 | 11,870 |
| Minnesota | $40,960 | 7,340 |
| Arizona | $40,560 | 7,090 |
| Massachusetts | $40,360 | 5,020 |
| New Jersey | $40,280 | 9,810 |
| South Carolina | $40,010 | 4,890 |
| Connecticut | $39,460 | 1,540 |
| New York | $39,330 | 18,150 |
| Oklahoma | $39,310 | 3,150 |
| Texas | $38,950 | 22,970 |
| Alaska | $38,730 | 260 |
| Delaware | $38,500 | 680 |
| Louisiana | $38,370 | 1,910 |
| Rhode Island | $38,330 | 1,100 |
| Alabama | $37,820 | 3,240 |
| Arkansas | $37,740 | 4,630 |
| Mississippi | $37,720 | 3,030 |
| Nevada | $37,440 | 2,700 |
| Florida | $37,170 | 14,010 |
| Hawaii | $36,810 | 380 |
| New Mexico | $35,640 | 1,550 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,970 | 3,520 |
Best-paying metro areas for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $79,800 | 670 |
| Salisbury, MD | $69,060 | 60 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $67,700 | 1,080 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $61,680 | 160 |
| Owensboro, KY | $61,250 | 980 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $60,340 | 330 |
| Decatur, IL | $59,160 | 160 |
| Traverse City, MI | $54,020 | 200 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $53,540 | 240 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $51,980 | 320 |
| Twin Falls, ID | $51,430 | 950 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $51,100 | 850 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $50,930 | 1,120 |
| Napa, CA | $50,850 | 960 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $50,260 | 630 |
Metro areas with the most packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 21,830 | $43,290 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 16,110 | $38,790 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 13,990 | $43,470 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 8,240 | $40,610 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 6,100 | $42,450 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,770 | $44,340 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 4,910 | $47,460 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 4,770 | $45,570 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 4,720 | $42,320 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 4,230 | $37,770 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 4,110 | $35,810 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 4,080 | $43,780 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 3,980 | $41,890 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 3,700 | $44,740 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,510 | $46,310 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,110 | $19.29 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,250 | $23.20 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $58,040 | $27.90 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,270 | $24.17 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,990 | $23.55 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,610 | $24.81 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $46,170 | $22.20 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $51,430 | $24.73 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9111. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders make in the U.S.?
The median salary for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in the U.S. is $43,220 a year, or $20.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid packaging and filling machine operators and tenders make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in the U.S. earn at least $60,030 a year. The top 25% earn $49,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,390 a year, and a quarter of packaging and filling machine operators and tenders earn $36,850 or less.
How many packaging and filling machine operators and tenders work in the U.S.?
About 379,060 packaging and filling machine operators and tenders are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.