Packers and Packagers, Hand
SOC code 53-7064 · O*NET-SOC 53-7064.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Transportation
Packers and Packagers, Hand pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$36,280
a year
Hourly
$17.44
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$37,540
$18.05 per hour
Middle 50%
$32,220 – $43,060
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$27,890 – $47,100
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
559,820
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $27,890
- $13.41/hr
- 25th percentile
- $32,220
- $15.49/hr
- Median percentile
- $36,280
- $17.44/hr
- 75th percentile
- $43,060
- $20.70/hr
- 90th percentile
- $47,100
- $22.65/hr
What do packers and packagers, hand do?
Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Examine and inspect containers, materials, or products to ensure that product quality and packing specifications are met.
- Measure, weigh, and count products and materials.
- Remove completed or defective products or materials, placing them on moving equipment, such as conveyors, or in specified areas, such as loading docks.
- Record product, packaging, and order information on specified forms and records.
- Seal containers or materials, using glues, fasteners, nails, and hand tools.
- Assemble, line, and pad cartons, crates, and containers, using hand tools.
- Obtain, move, and sort products, materials, containers, and orders, using hand tools.
- Place or pour products or materials into containers, using hand tools and equipment, or fill containers from spouts or chutes.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 54% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)54%
- Less than a High School Diploma33%
- Some College Courses14%
Common questions
How much does a packers and packagers, hand earn?
The national median is $36,280 a year. The full range runs from $27,890 at the 10th percentile to $47,100 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a packers and packagers, hand without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Monitoring3.0/5
- Active Listening2.8/5
- Critical Thinking2.8/5
- Reading Comprehension2.6/5
- Speaking2.6/5
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing4.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.2/5
- English Language3.0/5
- Administrative2.8/5
- Mathematics2.7/5
- Public Safety and Security2.7/5
- Mechanical2.6/5
- Computers and Electronics2.6/5
Transferable strengths: Coordination.