Packers and Packagers, Hand salary in California
Packers and Packagers, Hand in California earn a median of $37,260 a year ($17.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 79,730 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,330 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $36,280. California ranks 15th of 51 states for packers and packagers, hand pay. There are 4.4 packers and packagers, hand per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for packers and packagers, hand in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| 25th percentile | $35,290 | $16.97 |
| Median | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| 75th percentile | $42,420 | $20.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,330 | $23.23 |
| Average (mean) | $40,010 | $19.23 |
Half of packers and packagers, hand 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 | $3,105 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,552.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,433.08 |
| Weekly | $716.54 |
| Hourly | $17.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Packers and Packagers, Hand salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $42,410 | 3,600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $41,610 | 5,750 |
| Modesto, CA | $40,680 | 1,620 |
| Napa, CA | $39,070 | 310 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,470 | 710 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $38,400 | 10,560 |
| Yuba City, CA | $38,030 | 220 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,950 | 690 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $37,450 | 3,110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,390 | 25,350 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $36,890 | 5,470 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $36,660 | 2,760 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $36,510 | 390 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $36,140 | 420 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $36,020 | 720 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $35,940 | 380 |
| Chico, CA | $35,870 | 320 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $35,730 | 1,830 |
| Salinas, CA | $35,480 | 2,700 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $35,260 | 2,480 |
| Fresno, CA | $35,060 | 4,320 |
| Redding, CA | $34,830 | 210 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,740 | 1,420 |
| El Centro, CA | $34,320 | 380 |
| Merced, CA | $34,320 | 1,160 |
Highest-paying states for packers and packagers, hand
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Kansas | $44,460 |
| New Jersey | $43,840 |
| Alaska | $41,670 |
| District of Columbia | $40,910 |
| Colorado | $40,730 |
| Minnesota | $40,310 |
| Vermont | $39,440 |
| Washington | $39,220 |
| Nebraska | $38,880 |
| Missouri | $37,670 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $42,870 | $20.61 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $64,890 | $31.20 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $38,410 | $18.46 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $40,380 | $19.41 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.74 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $79,570 | $38.25 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $57,660 | $27.72 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $64,430 | $30.98 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $68,600 | $32.98 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,790 | $22.50 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-7064. 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 packers and packagers, hand make in California?
The median salary for packers and packagers, hand in California is $37,260 a year, or $17.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid packers and packagers, hand make in California?
The top 10% of packers and packagers, hand in California earn at least $48,330 a year. The top 25% earn $42,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for packers and packagers, hand in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,360 a year, and a quarter of packers and packagers, hand earn $35,290 or less.
How many packers and packagers, hand work in California?
About 79,730 packers and packagers, hand are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.