Packers and Packagers, Hand
Also called: Agricultural Produce Packer, Ampoule Sealer, Apple Packing Header, Bag Filler, Bag Loader, Bag Sealer, Bagger, Band Shover
Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.
What packers and packagers, hand do
Typical tasks
- Examine and inspect containers, materials, or products to ensure that product quality and packing specifications are met.
- Measure, weigh, and count products and materials.
- 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.
- Mark and label containers, container tags, or products, using marking tools.
- Clean containers, materials, supplies, or work areas, using cleaning solutions and hand tools.
- Remove completed or defective products or materials, placing them on moving equipment, such as conveyors, or in specified areas, such as loading docks.
- Place or pour products or materials into containers, using hand tools and equipment, or fill containers from spouts or chutes.
- Load materials and products into package processing equipment.
- Transport packages to customers' vehicles.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Packers and Packagers, Hand salary
The median annual wage for packers and packagers, hand is $36,280 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $27,890 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $47,100. The mean annual wage is $37,540.
The mean hourly wage of $18.00 is 2.5× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Packers and Packagers, Hand (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $36,280 → in 3 years $39,200 → in 5 years $41,300 → in 10 years $47,100 (10-year range $40,500–$54,700). The model assumes pay growth of +2.6% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Packers and Packagers, Hand
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Packers and Packagers, Hand? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Packers and Packagers, Hand
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Packers and Packagers, Hand United States | 製品包装作業員 Japan | こん包作業員 Japan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $36,280 | ¥3.37M ≈ $21,406 | ¥4.07M ≈ $25,852 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $47,100 | ¥4.39M | ¥5.09M |
| Outlook score | 33 | 48 | 46 |
| AI replacement risk | 38% Low | 37% Low | 38% Low |
| Workers | 560K | — | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Packers and Packagers, Hand
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★☆☆☆☆ Easy to enter (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become packers and packagers, hand
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as packers and packagers, hand
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.