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Occupational Employment Statistics


DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

51-9111 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.

Geography Click link for Career Profile EmploymentEmp SE*Percentiles
Mean10th25thMedian75th90th
Southwest Minnesota 71071$22.37/hr$17.64/hr$19.79/hr$22.25/hr$24.02/hr$26.94/hr
Minnesota 7,700832$21.38/hr$17.42/hr$17.99/hr$21.12/hr$23.43/hr$27.43/hr
U S 383,8603,071$21.33/hr$15.58/hr$17.72/hr$20.00/hr$23.67/hr$28.79/hr


IndustryOES Employment (Statewide)OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Natural Resources and MiningN/AN/A
Manufacturing5,420$21.85/hr
Trade, Transportation and Utilities460$22.74/hr
InformationN/AN/A
Professional and Business Services1,700$17.44/hr
 
Geography Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2022-2032
Northeast Balance of State 30$32.18/hrN/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA 70$23.02/hrN/A
Northeast Minnesota 80$24.04/hr1.5%
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA 120$23.11/hrN/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA 180$23.14/hrN/A
Rochester MN MSA 240$20.42/hrN/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA 290$23.66/hrN/A
St Cloud MN MSA 290$19.31/hrN/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA 410$22.39/hrN/A
Southwest Balance of State 470$22.25/hrN/A
Northwest Balance of State 640$20.62/hrN/A
Southwest Minnesota 710$22.25/hr6.7%
Northwest Minnesota 760$21.23/hr8.7%
Southeast Balance of State 810$21.45/hrN/A
Central Minnesota 840$21.85/hr8.8%
Southeast Minnesota 880$21.45/hr6.7%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN 4,230$19.65/hr3.9%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA 4,790$20.51/hrN/A
Minnesota 7,700$21.12/hr5.4%




  • Count and record finished and rejected packaged items.
  • Remove finished packaged items from machine and separate rejected items.
  • Stack finished packaged items, or wrap protective material around each item, and pack the items in cartons or containers.
  • Clean packaging containers, line and pad crates, or assemble cartons to prepare for product packing.
  • Attach identification labels to finished packaged items, or cut stencils and stencil information on containers, such as lot numbers or shipping destinations.
  • Stock and sort product for packaging or filling machine operation, and replenish packaging supplies, such as wrapping paper, plastic sheet, boxes, cartons, glue, ink, or labels.
  • Inspect and remove defective products and packaging material.
  • Sort, grade, weigh, and inspect products, verifying and adjusting product weight or measurement to meet specifications.
  • Stop or reset machines when malfunctions occur, clear machine jams, and report malfunctions to a supervisor.
  • Monitor the production line, watching for problems such as pile-ups, jams, or glue that isn't sticking properly.