The median pay for Packers and Packagers, Hand is $36,280 a year ($17.44/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 5.0% through 2035, with about 61,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 53-7064
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Packer and Packager, Hand in four numbers
- Median pay
- $36,280a year, or $17.44/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $28KTop 10% $47K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -5.0%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 61,800555,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025555.5K
- Projected 2035528K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 555.5K Projected 2035 528K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school32.5%
- High school53.8%
- Some college13.7%
Highest education held by packers and packagers, hand Segment Value Less than high school 32.5% High school 53.8% Some college 13.7%
Also advertised as: Bagger, Crater, Mini Shifter, Pack Out Operator, Packager, Packaging Specialist.
Pay
How much do packers and packagers make?
Packers and Packagers, Hand earn a median of $36,280 a year ($17.44 an hour, or about $3,020 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $27,890 and the top 10% more than $47,100 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is Kansas, with a median of $44,460. See Packer and packager, hand salary in Kansas and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Fairbanks ($47,840 average): salary in every city.
Every packer and packager, hand in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$36,280
Middle half earn $32,220 to $43,060
- 10th
- $27,890
- 25th
- $32,220
- 75th
- $43,060
- 90th
- $47,100
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $27,890 |
| 25th | $32,220 |
| Median | $36,280 |
| 75th | $43,060 |
| 90th | $47,100 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $36,280
- Median hourly wage
- $17.44/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $37,540
- People employed
- 559,820
Versus all US occupations
At $36,280, Packers and Packagers, Hand earn 29% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $14,700 a year.
Versus transportation and material moving occupations
Inside the Transportation and Material Moving group, where the middle occupation pays $62,840, this is 42% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $47,100 or more while the bottom 10% earn $27,890, a gap of 1.7×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 3% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Kansas pays the most at $44,460, and still leads at $49,363 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay packers and packagers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Kansas | $44,460 | $49,363 | 9,900 |
| 2New Jersey | $43,840 | $40,292 | 71,260 |
| 3Alaska | $41,670 | $40,710 | 560 |
| 4District of Columbia | $40,910 | $37,224 | 170 |
| 5Colorado | $40,730 | $39,524 | 4,120 |
| 6Minnesota | $40,310 | $40,874 | 5,460 |
| 7Vermont | $39,440 | $40,262 | 810 |
| 8Washington | $39,220 | $36,650 | 11,940 |
| 9Nebraska | $38,880 | $43,151 | 3,010 |
| 10Missouri | $37,670 | $41,479 | 5,910 |
Job outlook
Is packer and packager, hand a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -5.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | −5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Packers and Packagers, Hand to change -5.0% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 27,500 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 61,800 openings are projected each year, 11.1% of the 555,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of hand laborers and material movers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of hand laborers and material movers varies by occupation (see table).
Hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers will still be needed to move materials in many sectors of the economy. However, some warehouses have installed equipment, such as high-speed conveyors and sorting systems, to increase efficiency.
AI exposure: low
BLS places this occupation in its low relative AI exposure category, among the occupations least exposed to current AI.
Getting in
How to become a packer and packager, hand
There are usually no formal educational requirements to become a hand laborer or material mover. They typically learn through on-the-job training that lasts 1 month or less.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as packers and packagers, hand.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)53.8%
- Less than a High School Diploma32.5%
- Some College Courses13.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 53.8% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 32.5% |
| Some College Courses | 13.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a packer and packager, hand do?
Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.
Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Some of these workers feed or remove material to or from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.
Day-to-day tasks
- Examine and inspect containers, materials, or products to ensure that product quality and packing specifications are met.
- Mark and label containers, container tags, or products, using marking tools.
- Measure, weigh, and count products and materials.
- Record product, packaging, and order information on specified forms and records.
- Assemble, line, and pad cartons, crates, and containers, using hand tools.
- Clean containers, materials, supplies, or work areas, using cleaning solutions and hand tools.
- Obtain, move, and sort products, materials, containers, and orders, using hand tools.
- Seal containers or materials, using glues, fasteners, nails, and hand tools.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most hand laborers and material movers work full time, although part-time work is common. Work schedules vary and may include nights and weekends.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.0
- Active Listening2.8
- Critical Thinking2.8
- Reading Comprehension2.6
- Speaking2.6
- Active Learning2.1
- Writing2.0
- Mathematics2.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 2.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.6 |
| Speaking | 2.6 |
| Active Learning | 2.1 |
| Writing | 2.0 |
| Mathematics | 2.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination2.6
- Quality Control Analysis2.3
- Judgment and Decision Making2.3
- Time Management2.3
- Social Perceptiveness2.1
- Service Orientation2.1
- Operations Monitoring2.1
- Complex Problem Solving2.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 2.6 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.3 |
| Time Management | 2.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.1 |
| Service Orientation | 2.1 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Inventory management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a packer and packager, hand?
Women make up 53.5% of packers and packagers, hand, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole.
Only 17.5% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce, with 28.0% under 25.
The median worker is 36.4 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 53.5%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 36.4All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 17.5%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 582,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of packers and packagers, hand | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 53.5% | 47.1% |
| White | 68.5% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 20.2% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 6.2% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 46.3% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 17.5% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 28.0% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a packer and packager, hand?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Packer and Packager, Hand |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic5.6
- Conventional5.4
- Enterprising2.3
- Artistic1.5
- Social1.4
- Investigative1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Packer and Packager, Hand
O*NET related occupations
- Production
Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender
$43,220median a year
Most earn $33K to $60K
+4.1%High school - Transportation and Material Moving
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Grader and Sorter, Agricultural Products
$35,730median a year
Most earn $30K to $44K
−3.4%No formal credential - Production
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operator and Tender
$46,460median a year
Most earn $31K to $61K
+1.3%High school - Production
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
$46,570median a year
Most earn $36K to $61K
−0.9%High school - Transportation and Material Moving
Laborer and Freight, Stock, and Material Mover, Hand
$40,240median a year
Most earn $31K to $55K
+1.8%No formal credential
More transportation and material moving careers
Median annual pay, with packers and packagers, hand highlighted
- Airline Pilot$232,140
- Commercial Pilot$123,220
- Locomotive Engineer$81,410
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster$78,000
- Crane and Tower Operator$68,080
- Flight Attendant$63,580
- Truck Driver$58,640
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690
- Packer and Packager, Hand$36,280
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilot | $232,140 |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $81,410 |
| Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster | $78,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $68,080 |
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $49,690 |
| Packer and Packager, Hand | $36,280 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Packer and Packager, Hand appears on
Questions
Packer and Packager, Hand: frequently asked questions
How much do packers and packagers make?
Packers and Packagers, Hand earn a median of $36,280 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 29% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $17.44/hr. The middle half earn between $32,220 and $43,060. The top 10% earn $47,100 or more.
How much do packers and packagers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for packers and packagers, hand is $17.44 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $36,280 annual median works out to about $3,020 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a packer and packager, hand?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of packers and packagers, hand earn less than $27,890 a year and the bottom quarter less than $32,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Which states pay packers and packagers the most?
The highest state medians for Packers and Packagers, Hand are Kansas ($44,460), New Jersey ($43,840), Alaska ($41,670) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of packer and packager, hand earns the most?
BLS does not split packers and packagers, hand' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $47,100, against a median of $36,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Kansas ($44,460), New Jersey ($43,840), Alaska ($41,670).
Do you need a degree to become a packer and packager, hand?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Packers and Packagers, Hand, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 53.8% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
How long does it take to become a packer and packager, hand?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for packers and packagers is no formal educational credential. Once hired, BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing some preparation.
Is packer and packager, hand a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 5.0% over 2025–2035, a loss of 27,500 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 61,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a packer and packager, hand do?
Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. A core O*NET task: examine and inspect containers, materials, or products to ensure that product quality and packing specifications are met. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software, Office suite software.
Do packers and packagers work 40 hours a week?
Yes, for most. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 26% of packers and packagers, hand usually work more than 40 hours a week, 75% work exactly 40 and 0% work fewer. 67% say their schedule is regular and 28% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a packer and packager, hand?
O*NET scores Packers and Packagers, Hand highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of packers and packagers are women?
Women make up 53.5% of packers and packagers, hand, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole. Only 17.5% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce, with 28.0% under 25. The median worker is 36.4 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.