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Packer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$36,280median pay per year, or $17.44 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $27,890lowest 10% earn less
  2. $32,22025th percentile
  3. $36,280median
  4. $43,06075th percentile
  5. $47,100top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Packers, which BLS calls packers and packagers, hand, had a median pay of $36,280 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to decline 5% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-5%[2]
Openings per year
61,800[5]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[6]

How much do packers make?

The median pay for packers and packagers, hand was $36,280 a year, or $17.44 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean (average) was $37,540 a year, or $18.05 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4]. So the median for this job was below the median for all occupations.

Pay varies within the job. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $27,890 a year, and the 25th percentile was $32,220[3]. The 75th percentile was $43,060 and the 90th percentile was $47,100[3]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $13.41 and the 90th percentile was $22.65[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[3] $27,890
25th percentile[3] $32,220
Median[1] $36,280
75th percentile[3] $43,060
90th percentile[3] $47,100

These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 559,820 people held these jobs in this count[11].

Pay by state and city

BLS published medians for 50 states and DC[12]. Kansas had the highest at $44,460, followed by New Jersey at $43,840 and Alaska at $41,670[12]. Louisiana had the lowest published median, at $27,710[12].

California had the most jobs, at 79,730[13]. New Jersey followed with 71,260, then Texas with 46,510, Florida with 38,860 and Illinois with 23,270[13]. California had a median of $37,260, Texas had $33,090 and Florida had $28,280[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the highest medians were in Greeley, CO at $48,780, Sheboygan, WI at $47,550 and Kansas City, MO-KS at $44,460[14]. The metro areas with the most jobs were New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at 51,020, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at 25,350 and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD at 23,180[15]. Their medians were $43,450, $37,390 and $43,970[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Kansas[12]$44,4609,900
New Jersey$43,84071,260
Alaska$41,670560
District of Columbia$40,910170
Colorado$40,7304,120
Minnesota$40,3105,460
Vermont$39,440810
Washington$39,22011,940
Nebraska$38,8803,010
Missouri$37,6705,910
Iowa$37,4704,090
Indiana$37,4209,690
Nevada$37,4003,750
Delaware$37,2902,030
California$37,26079,730
New York$37,26014,830
Arizona$37,0607,380
Ohio$37,00020,700
Pennsylvania$36,96022,990
Idaho$36,9202,020
Kentucky$36,8505,900
Rhode Island$36,7301,830
Maine$36,3301,460
Oregon$36,1906,370
Illinois$36,09023,270
Utah$36,0605,740
Wisconsin$36,01013,130
Tennessee$35,98014,030
Hawaii$35,9302,010
Connecticut$35,8904,280
Maryland$35,8604,230
Michigan$35,34015,590
Virginia$35,0007,790
Montana$34,9601,490
Oklahoma$34,5203,900
North Carolina$34,36019,600
Massachusetts$34,20015,330
Arkansas$33,9303,050
Georgia$33,26017,380
Mississippi$33,2403,490
Texas$33,09046,510
South Carolina$32,1807,610
Wyoming$32,110340
Alabama$31,7707,050
North Dakota$31,440470
New Hampshire$30,7003,300
South Dakota$28,7601,040
West Virginia$28,7401,140
Florida$28,28038,860
New Mexico$28,0701,050
Louisiana$27,7102,280

How to become a packer

The path in the BLS data is short and does not list an exam.

The training details come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group, hand laborers and material movers[16]. That profile says new workers usually learn on the job, with training of a few days up to a month[17]. New workers may shadow an experienced worker to learn the duties and how to use equipment safely[17]. It also says some workers in the wider group need a state-issued license[18].

In an O*NET survey of 23 workers, 54% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 33% said less than a diploma and 14% said some college courses[19]. This is a small survey.

What packers do

O*NET describes the work as packing or packaging a wide variety of products and materials by hand[20]. Common tasks include:

Workers in O*NET report job titles such as bagger, packager and picker and packer[22].

Where they work

The BLS profile for the wider group says these workers are found in stockrooms, warehouses, manufacturing plants and other settings[23]. The work is usually repetitive and physically demanding. It involves lifting, carrying and sometimes awkward positions[23]. Workers need physical stamina and attention to detail when packing orders[24][25]. BLS says the wider group has some of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations[26].

In 2025, retail trade was the largest employer of the wider group, at 35%[27]. Full-time work is common, part-time work is common too, and schedules may include nights and weekends[28].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment for packers and packagers, hand to decline 5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 555,500 to 528,000 jobs[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[29]. These projection counts include self-employed workers, and 1.1% of packers were self-employed in 2025[2][30].

Even so, BLS expects about 61,800 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[5]. Openings count jobs left by workers who retire or move to other occupations, as well as new jobs[5]. Each year, 5.3% of workers leave the labor force and 6.6% move to a different occupation[31].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job with a very low barrier to entry. No formal education or related experience is needed, and training is short[6]. The median pay of $36,280 is below the all-occupations median of $50,980, and the top 10% earned $47,100 or more[1][4][3]. Total employment is projected to shrink, so openings come from workers leaving rather than from new jobs[2][5]. The wider BLS profile describes the work as physically demanding[23]. Pay differs by state, so local figures matter[12].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a packer make an hour?
The median was $17.44 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $13.41 and the 90th percentile was $22.65[8].
What education do you need to be a packer?
BLS lists no formal educational credential, with no related experience and short-term on-the-job training[6].
Is packer in demand?
BLS projects a 5% decline from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% growth for all occupations, with about 61,800 openings a year[2][29][5].
What is the highest paying state for packers?
Kansas had the highest median at $44,460, followed by New Jersey at $43,840[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Packers and Packagers, Hand in the US was $36,280 per year and $17.44 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Packers and Packagers, Hand is projected to decline 5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 555,500 to 528,000 jobs (a change of -27,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Packers and Packagers, Hand: 10th percentile $27,890, 25th percentile $32,220, 75th percentile $43,060, 90th percentile $47,100. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 61,800 openings for Packers and Packagers, Hand are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Packers and Packagers, Hand: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Packers and Packagers, Hand was $37,540 per year and $18.05 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Packers and Packagers, Hand: 10th percentile $13.41, 25th percentile $15.49, 75th percentile $20.70, 90th percentile $22.65. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 559,820 people were employed as Packers and Packagers, Hand in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Packers and Packagers, Hand in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Packers and Packagers, Hand jobs: California 79,730; New Jersey 71,260; Texas 46,510; Florida 38,860; Illinois 23,270. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Packers and Packagers, Hand (areas with at least 100 jobs): Greeley, CO $48,780; Sheboygan, WI $47,550; Kansas City, MO-KS $44,460; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $44,010; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $43,970; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $43,450; Rochester, MN $42,520; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $42,410. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Packers and Packagers, Hand jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 51,020 (median $43,450); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 25,350 (median $37,390); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 23,180 (median $43,970); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 19,580 (median $33,090); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 17,960 (median $36,180); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 11,250 (median $33,740). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Hand Laborers and Material Movers" covers Packers and Packagers, Hand together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. O*NET 53-7064.00 survey of workers (23 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 54%, Less than a High School Diploma 33%, Some College Courses 14% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET description of Packers and Packagers, Hand. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET task list for Packers and Packagers, Hand. O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET 53-7064.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Bagger, Crater, Mini Shifter, Pack Out Operator, Packager, Packaging Specialist, Packer, Picker and Packer. O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of hand laborers and material movers in 2025: Retail trade 35%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS Employment Projections: 1.1% of Packers and Packagers, Hand were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Packers and Packagers, Hand: 5.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.