Skip to main content

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
Central Minnesota 81067$20.72/hr$16.93/hr$18.09/hr$19.53/hr$23.49/hr$24.17/hr


IndustryOES Employment (Statewide)OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Natural Resources and MiningN/AN/A
Manufacturing5,950$20.73/hr
Trade, Transportation and Utilities420$23.66/hr
InformationN/AN/A
Professional and Business Services1,010$18.43/hr
 
Geography Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2022-2032
Northeast Balance of State 20$26.83/hrN/A
Northeast Minnesota 70$21.80/hr-0.4%
Duluth MN-WI MSA 80$22.48/hrN/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA 110$22.69/hrN/A
Rochester MN MSA 200$19.97/hrN/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA 210$20.40/hrN/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA 260$16.89/hrN/A
St Cloud MN MSA 290$18.09/hrN/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA 330$20.32/hrN/A
Northwest Balance of State 660$19.27/hrN/A
Northwest Minnesota 720$19.27/hr1.3%
Central Minnesota 810$19.53/hr3.6%
Southwest Balance of State 890$21.77/hrN/A
Southeast Minnesota 1,210$20.94/hr4.8%
Southeast Balance of State 1,240$21.65/hrN/A
Southwest Minnesota 1,260$21.44/hr2.5%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN 3,230$20.77/hr6.3%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA 3,820$20.88/hrN/A
Minnesota 7,410$20.44/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.