What Do Packaging and Filling Machine Operator or Tender Do?
Example of Packaging & Filling Machine Operator or Tender Job Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.
Life As a Packaging & Filling Machine Operator or Tender
- Tend or operate machine that packages product.
- Clean and remove damaged or otherwise inferior materials to prepare raw products for processing.
- Inspect and remove defective products and packaging material.
- Clean, oil, and make minor adjustments or repairs to machinery and equipment, such as opening valves or setting guides.
- Monitor the production line, watching for problems such as pile-ups, jams, or glue that isn’t sticking properly.
- Clean packaging containers, line and pad crates, or assemble cartons to prepare for product packing.
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What Every Packaging & Filling Machine Operator or Tender Should Know
When polled, Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Types of Packaging and Filling Machine Operator or Tender
- Blister Packaging Machine Operator
- Bread Wrapper Operator
- Sealer
- Automatic Packer Operator
- Filling Room Operator
Job Outlook for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
In the United States, there were 383,000 jobs for Packaging and Filling Machine Operator or Tender in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 1.7% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 6,700 new jobs for Packaging and Filling Machine Operator or Tender by 2026. The BLS estimates 44,600 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Packaging & Filling Machine Operator or Tender are Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Delaware, Maine, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Packaging & Filling Machine Operator or Tender Salary
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders make between $21,260 and $48,890 a year.

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders who work in Wyoming, Kentucky, or Minnesota, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $29,130 |
Alaska | $26,890 |
Arizona | $30,350 |
Arkansas | $31,050 |
California | $32,480 |
Colorado | $34,750 |
Connecticut | $38,480 |
Delaware | $33,000 |
District of Columbia | $36,540 |
Florida | $28,290 |
Georgia | $33,240 |
Hawaii | $30,620 |
Idaho | $33,790 |
Illinois | $33,900 |
Indiana | $32,630 |
Iowa | $33,130 |
Kansas | $35,950 |
Kentucky | $36,550 |
Louisiana | $29,680 |
Maine | $34,390 |
Maryland | $31,800 |
Massachusetts | $32,580 |
Michigan | $34,270 |
Minnesota | $35,780 |
Mississippi | $28,900 |
Missouri | $35,660 |
Montana | $29,570 |
Nebraska | $36,580 |
Nevada | $28,780 |
New Hampshire | $34,690 |
New Jersey | $29,830 |
New Mexico | $26,560 |
New York | $31,590 |
North Carolina | $32,560 |
North Dakota | $30,880 |
Ohio | $33,080 |
Oklahoma | $28,870 |
Oregon | $31,890 |
Pennsylvania | $35,200 |
Rhode Island | $30,140 |
South Carolina | $29,700 |
South Dakota | $30,310 |
Tennessee | $29,990 |
Texas | $30,570 |
Utah | $31,390 |
Vermont | $32,960 |
Virginia | $32,930 |
Washington | $34,740 |
West Virginia | $29,890 |
Wisconsin | $34,600 |
Wyoming | $45,690 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- SAP
- Spreadsheet software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Label printing software
Becoming a Packaging & Filling Machine Operator or Tender
Individuals working as a Packaging and Filling Machine Operator or Tender have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Are Employed

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Packaging and Filling Machine Operator or Tender may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as a Packaging and Filling Machine Operator or Tender sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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