Production Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Peer-group outlier SOC 51-9111

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

Median pay sits 42% below the mid peer in Production Occupations (neighbors include Power Plant Operators, Model Makers, Metal and Plastic, Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators, Gas Plant Operators).

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders: Power Plant Operators ($102K) , Model Makers, Metal and Plastic ($63K) , Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators ($79K) , Gas Plant Operators ($88K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 51-9111 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Attach identification labels to finished packaged items, or cut stencils and stencil information on containers, such as lot numbers or sh…
  2. 2. Sort, grade, weigh, and inspect products, verifying and adjusting product weight or measurement to meet specifications
  3. 3. Stop or reset machines when malfunctions occur, clear machine jams, and report malfunctions to a supervisor
  4. 4. Observe machine operations to ensure quality and conformity of filled or packaged products to standards
  5. 5. Remove finished packaged items from machine and separate rejected items
  6. 6. Monitor the production line, watching for problems such as pile-ups, jams, or glue that isn't sticking properly
  7. 7. Inspect and remove defective products and packaging material
  8. 8. Start machine by engaging controls
  9. 9. Tend or operate machine that packages product
  10. 10. Clean, oil, and make minor adjustments or repairs to machinery and equipment, such as opening valves or setting guides
  11. 11. Regulate machine flow, speed, or temperature
  12. 12. Adjust machine components and machine tension and pressure according to size or processing angle of product

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders: O*NET ranks Operations Monitoring first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 51-9111 - lead skill Operations Monitoring at 3.3 ; lead knowledge Production and Processing. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Operations Monitoring 3.3
  2. 2. Monitoring 3.1
  3. 3. Active Listening 3.0
  4. 4. Coordination 3.0
  5. 5. Operation and Control 3.0
  6. 6. Reading Comprehension 2.9
  7. 7. Critical Thinking 2.9
  8. 8. Social Perceptiveness 2.9

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Production and Processing 3.8
  2. 2. Mechanical 3.5
  3. 3. Public Safety and Security 3.2
  4. 4. Education and Training 3.2
  5. 5. English Language 3.2
  6. 6. Customer and Personal Service 3.1
Pay vs Production Occupations peers
-42%
vs mid peer median $74,450
This role $43,220/yr
$43K
National median
↑ +5%
Growth 2024-2034
45,300
Annual openings
379,060
Estimated US jobs
Power Plant Operators
Highest-pay peer · $102K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Top Paying States for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

1. North Dakota $47,390
2. New Hampshire $49,450
3. Vermont $46,670
4. Idaho $46,720
5. Nebraska $46,220
6. Wyoming $48,890
7. West Virginia $46,410
8. Missouri $48,070
9. Wisconsin $46,220
10. Maine $47,970

Other Production Occupations titles

  1. 1. Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators $78,620
  2. 2. Gas Plant Operators $87,820
  3. 3. Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic $63,870
  4. 4. Model Makers, Metal and Plastic $63,340
  5. 5. Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers $96,710
  6. 6. Power Plant Operators $102,040

Among Production Occupations peers on this card, Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders sits 42% below the mid peer median ($74,450). Its own median is $43,220.

Employment Projections expect +5% change between 2024 and 2034 (about as fast as average vs baseline 3.1%). About 45,300 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: North Dakota at $47,390. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Power Plant Operators at $102,040. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders pay-rank #76 in Production Occupations

On the Production Occupations median table (105 detailed occupations with OEWS medians), Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders lands at #76, in the lower third. That rank is a table position, not a statement about individual workers.

Other lower-third titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders pays 42% below its major-group peer median. See the state map and the peers closest to (and furthest from) this line.

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 51-9111

North Dakota · top state for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

$47K published median

New Hampshire · #2 state pay

$49K · behind North Dakota

Power Plant Operators

Highest-pay peer vs Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders · $102K

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

Lower-pay peer beside Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders · $63K

Compare Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders with another occupation →

Peer-comparison next reads

Compare Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

Against another occupation

Power Plant Operators card

Top peer in this major group

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders land on the Production Occupations median table? ▼
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders is pay-rank #76 of 105 in this major group, lower third of the median table. Closest lower-third titles: Etchers and Engravers ($43K), Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing ($43K), Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders ($44K), Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood ($43K). That position is a table rank, not a worker percentile.
What do packaging and filling machine operators and tenders do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders. Leading ones include: Attach identification labels to finished packaged items, or cut stencils and stencil information on containers, such as lot numbers or sh…; 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. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders? ▼
For SOC 51-9111, O*NET importance scores lead with Operations Monitoring (3.3), Monitoring (3.1), Active Listening (3.0), Coordination (3.0). Knowledge areas emphasize Production and Processing, Mechanical, Public Safety and Security. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
What is the OEWS national median for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders? ▼
May 2025 OEWS reports $43,220 as the national median for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders. The published 10th-90th range is $33,390 to $60,030. Beside Power Plant Operators ($102,040), this is the occupation-level national figure, not a local offer.
What employment change does BLS publish for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders is +5%. Projected annual openings: about 45,300. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: about as fast as average.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders? ▼
BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders? ▼
North Dakota ($47,390), New Hampshire ($49,450), Vermont ($46,670) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 51-9111. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics