Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$43,220
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$20.78
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$60,030
entry level starts ~$33,390
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 379,000 employed

How much do Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders make?

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders earn a median annual salary of $43,220 in the United States, which works out to roughly $20.78 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $33,390 at the entry level and $60,030 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $36,850 and $49,070 a year.

That is $18,170 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary range by percentile

Half of all Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders earn between $36,850 and $49,070 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$33,390$16.05
25th percentile (early career)$36,850$17.72
50th percentile (median)$43,220$20.78
75th percentile (experienced)$49,070$23.59
90th percentile (top earners)$60,030$28.86

Highest-paying states for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New Hampshire leads the country for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders pay at $49,450 a year, followed by Wyoming ($48,890) and Missouri ($48,070). At the other end, New Mexico posts the lowest median at $35,640 — a gap of $13,810 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1New Hampshire$49,450$23.77+14%
2Wyoming$48,890$23.50+13%
3Missouri$48,070$23.11+11%
4Maine$47,970$23.06+11%
5North Dakota$47,390$22.78+10%

Workforce and education

About 379,000 people work as Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $44,590 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders make in the United States?
The median Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary in the United States is $43,220 per year, or about $20.78 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $33,390, while the top 10% of earners make $60,030 or more.
How does Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders median of $43,220 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders the most?
New Hampshire is the highest-paying state for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders, with a median salary of $49,450 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders work in the United States?
About 379,000 people were employed as Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other manufacturing & production roles with similar pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.