Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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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.
Table of contents
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
Is this job meaningful
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
Average hourly wage
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 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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