Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

Highest risk
Imminent Risk
Low High

Explore safer careers (5)

Lower estimated automation risk

Industrial Machinery Mechanics
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Pays better Higher growth
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Why it fits

Packaging-line experience supports deeper training in conveyors, fillers, sensors, motors, and preventive maintenance.

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
38% automation risk | Low Risk
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Why it fits

Experienced packaging operators can coordinate lines, staffing, safety, changeovers, and production targets.

Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
30% automation risk | Low Risk
Pays better
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Why it fits

Line-operation knowledge can support time studies, workflow improvement, production data, and quality projects with training.

Maintenance Workers, Machinery
53% automation risk | Moderate Risk
Pays better
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Why it fits

Builds on machine tending, jams, changeovers, adjustments, cleaning, and basic line troubleshooting.

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
71% automation risk | High Risk
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Why it fits

Reuses pallet flow, warehouse staging, loading needs, safety, product handling, and shipment timing.

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Occupation snapshot

What does this snowflake show?
The Snowflake is a visual summary of the five badges: Automation Risk (calculated), Risk (polled), Growth, Wages and Volume. It gives you an instant snapshot of an occupations profile. The colour of the Snowflake relates to its size. The better the occupation scores in relation to others, the larger and greener the Snowflake becomes.
JOB SCORE
3.1/10
What's this?
Job Score (higher is better):

We rate jobs using four factors. These are:

- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions

These are some key things to think about when job hunting.

Risk & user votes

Calculated automation risk

81% (Imminent Risk)

Imminent Risk (81-100%): This occupation appears highly exposed to end-to-end replacement by AI, software, robotics, or other computer-controlled systems. Roles in this range often involve predictable, repeatable, or rules-based work with limited need for human judgement, trust, creativity, or adaptation to messy real-world conditions. This does not mean every job will disappear immediately, but it is a strong signal to consider safer alternatives or start building more resilient skills.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Human strengths important in this job

These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.

Thinking creatively

Quite important
Why this matters
Coming up with original ideas and designs—creating new concepts, products, systems, or artistic work. This kind of open-ended invention and taste-based judgment is harder to automate end-to-end than routine, rule-based tasks.
Jobs that also use this strength

Decision-making and problem solving

Quite important
Why this matters
Analyze information, weigh tradeoffs, and choose the best solution—especially when situations are ambiguous, high-stakes, or have real-world consequences.
Jobs that also use this strength

Education and training expertise

Quite important
Why this matters
Designing and delivering instruction—adapting lessons to different learners and measuring whether training actually works.
Jobs that also use this strength

What users think

Based on 26 votes

91% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted that it's very probable this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 81% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?

View sentiment trend

Pay & outlook

Wages

Very low paid relative to other professions

In 2024, the median annual wage for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders was $40,900 ($20 per hour).

The median annual wage for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders was 17.4% lower than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.

View wage trend

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Growth

Fast growth relative to other professions

The number of 'Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders' job openings is expected to rise 4.5% by 2034

View employment trend

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2023 and 2033
Updated projections are due 09-2025.

Volume

Significantly greater range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2024 there were 383,860 people employed as 'Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders' within the United States.

This represents around 0.25% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 401 people are employed as 'Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders'.

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Job description

Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.

O*NET-SOC code: 51-9111.00