# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/packaging-and-filling-machine-operators-and-tenders
- SOC code: 51-9111.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $43,220 (10th percentile $33,390, 90th percentile $60,030)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.1%
- Openings a year: 41,400
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 94 |
| Investigative (I) | 6 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 14 |
| Conventional (C) | 65 |

## What you'd do

- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 74/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 71/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 70/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 70/100)
- Getting Information (importance 68/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 66/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 66/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 66/100)
- Processing Information (importance 65/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 63/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Active Listening, Coordination, Operation and Control, Critical Thinking, Equipment Maintenance, Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Mechanical, Public Safety and Security, Education and Training, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Mathematics, Administration and Management, Personnel and Human Resources, Computers and Electronics

## Also called

Ampoule Filler, Ampoule Sealer, Apple Press Operator, Assembly Line Worker, Assembly Person, Assembly Worker, Auto Roller, Automatic Cigar Wrapper Tender, Automatic Packer Operator, Bag Bundler

## Related careers

- [Packers and Packagers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/packers-and-packagers-hand): $36,280 median pay
- [Machine Feeders and Offbearers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/machine-feeders-and-offbearers): $41,220 median pay
- [Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/adhesive-bonding-machine-operators-and-tenders): $46,460 median pay
- [Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extruding-forming-pressing-and-compacting-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $45,760 median pay
- [Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/paper-goods-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $50,270 median pay
- [Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cutting-and-slicing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $46,570 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.