What Do Packaging And Filling Machine Operators And Tenders Do

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.

Salary
$35220
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth
Low

Personality


What they do

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.

  • Attach identification labels to finished packaged items, or cut stencils and stencil information on containers, such as lot numbers or shipping destinations.
  • Sort, grade, weigh, and inspect products, verifying and adjusting product weight or measurement to meet specifications.
  • 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.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Packaging Machine Operators count and record finished and rejected packaged items. They remove finished packaged items from the machine and separate rejected items.

A typical day for a Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender will also include:

  • Stack finished packaged items, or wrap protective material around each item, and pack the items in cartons or containers.
  • Clean packaging containers, line and pad crates, or assemble cartons to prepare for product packing.
  • Attach identification labels to finished packaged items, or cut stencils and stencil information on containers, such as lot numbers or shipping destinations.
  • Stock and sort products for packaging or filling machine operation, and replenish packaging supplies, such as wrapping paper, plastic sheets, boxes, cartons, glue, ink, or labels.
  • Inspect and remove defective products and packaging material.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Packaging Machine Operators also tend or operate machines that package products. They may also clean and remove damaged or otherwise inferior materials to prepare raw products for processing.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Packaging Machine Operators start the machine by engaging controls. They might also adjust machine components and machine tension and pressure according to the size or processing angle of the product.

In addition, they stop or reset machines when malfunctions occur clear machine jams, and report malfunctions to a supervisor.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them inspect and remove defective products and packaging material.

To some Packaging Machine Operators, it is also their responsibility to regulate machine flow, speed, or temperature.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Average

Is this job meaningful

Average

64% said they were satisfied with their job and 50% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.

Normal working hours (40 hours per week).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

One of the lowest paying jobs.

How much do they make

Average salary

$35220 per year

Average hourly wage

$17 per hour

Entry-level Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $23,670 to $27,490 per year or $11 to $13 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $51,080 $25
Senior (Top 25%) $40,640 $20
Median $32,640 $16
Junior (Bottom 25%) $27,490 $13
No experience (Bottom 10%) $23,670 $11

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Federal Executive Branch $59730 $28.72
Tobacco Manufacturing $51700 $24.85
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing $49240 $23.67
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills $45380 $21.82
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing $43020 $20.68
Scientific Research and Development Services $42540 $20.45
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel $42250 $20.31
Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying $42170 $20.28
Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing $40820 $19.63
Grain and Oilseed Milling $40740 $19.59

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Employment Services 33690 $30690 $14.75
Other Food Manufacturing 29680 $36060 $17.34
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 29310 $36340 $17.47
Beverage Manufacturing 27210 $40320 $19.38
Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing 26380 $36360 $17.48
Animal Slaughtering and Processing 25150 $32580 $15.66
Chemical Manufacturing 22460 $34660 $16.66
Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing 22330 $34740 $16.70
Dairy Product Manufacturing 22310 $37480 $18.02
Plastics Product Manufacturing 11220 $33030 $15.88

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
12%

40 hours
58%

More than 40 hours
30%

Working schedule

72%

28%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
15%

Every day
8%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
13%

Every day
1%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
9%

Every day
58%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
67%

Once a year
7%

Once a month
10%

Once a week
8%

Every day
8%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
2%

Slightly competitive
21%

Moderately competitive
29%

Highly competitive
28%

Extremely competitive
20%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
20%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
7%

Every day
73%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
41%

Once a year or more
17%

Once a month or more
4%

Once a week or more
11%

Every day
26%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
73%

Once a year or more
8%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
14%

Every day
6%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
89%

Once a year or more
8%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
3%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
17%

High School Diploma or equivalent
80%

Post-Secondary Certificate
1%

Some College Courses
0%

Associate’s Degree or similar
2%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
37%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
24%

3 to 6 months
1%

6 months to 1 year
17%

1 to 2 years
4%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 6 years
6%

6 to 8 years
11%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
1%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
10%

1 month
37%

1 to 3 months
31%

3 to 6 months
21%

6 months to 1 year
0%

1 to 2 years
1%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
100%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
43%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
24%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
14%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
24%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
76%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
29%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
29%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
24%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
52%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
76%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
48%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


Don’t know which career to pursue?

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