Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Packers and packagers, hand, play a large role in the movement of goods, with national employment at 592,000. This occupation offers entry into the workforce with no formal educational credential typically required, which can make it accessible to a wide range of job seekers, including students and career changers. The work relies on a mix of physical strength and stamina, fine motor abilities, attention to detail, and interpersonal skills. Mechanical skills, comfort with computers and information technology, and basic mathematics also support performance in these roles. Customer service capabilities can be valuable where there is direct interaction with clients or coworkers. While national projected employment growth is negative, there are still tens of thousands of annual openings, indicating ongoing replacement and hiring needs. Individuals interested in hands-on, detail-oriented work with clear skill expectations may find this occupation a practical starting point or a stable option within material handling and related fields.
The national median annual salary for packers and packagers, hand, is $35,580. Earnings vary by location, and several states and metro areas stand out with higher median pay. Among the top states by opportunity score, Colorado reports a median salary of $40,730 and Washington reports $39,220, both above the national median for this occupation. California and New York each list a median salary of $37,260, while Massachusetts reports $34,200. At the metro level, pay can be even higher. The New York–Newark–Jersey City metro shows a median salary of $43,450, and San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara reports $42,410. The San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont area lists $41,610. These figures suggest that geographic choice can significantly influence earnings, with several large metro areas and certain states offering higher median wages than the national level for this occupation.
Nationally, packers and packagers, hand, have employment of 592,000, with projected employment growth of -5.4%. Despite the negative growth rate, there are an estimated 74,000 annual openings. This combination indicates that while the overall number of positions is expected to decline, there will still be substantial ongoing hiring needs, such as replacing workers who leave the occupation. The same -5.4% projected growth rate appears across the highlighted top states and metro areas, suggesting a consistent national trend for this occupation’s outlook. For job seekers, this means that opportunities are likely to come more from turnover and replacement than from expansion. Individuals considering this career may want to factor in both the current employment base and the volume of annual openings when assessing long-term prospects and potential job stability within different regions.
Location has a clear impact on both opportunity scores and earnings for packers and packagers, hand. Among states, California leads with an opportunity score of 67.38, a median salary of $37,260, and employment of 79,730, indicating a large job base. Massachusetts and New York follow with opportunity scores around 66 and median salaries of $34,200 and $37,260, respectively, each with employment above 14,000. Colorado and Washington show higher state-level median salaries—$40,730 and $39,220—though with smaller employment bases of 4,120 and 11,940. At the metro level, New York–Newark–Jersey City and San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara stand out, with opportunity scores above 77 and median salaries of $43,450 and $42,410. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont also offers a relatively high median salary of $41,610. These differences suggest that large metro areas and select states can provide both higher wages and strong overall opportunity scores for this occupation.
For packers and packagers, hand, the typical education requirement is no formal educational credential. This makes the field accessible to individuals who want to enter the workforce quickly without completing a degree or certificate program. Instead of formal education, success in this occupation is closely tied to a defined skill set. Physical strength and stamina and fine motor abilities are important, reflecting the hands-on nature of the work. Being detail oriented helps maintain accuracy and quality. Interpersonal and customer service skills can support effective interaction with coworkers and customers. Mechanical skills and comfort with computers and information technology may be useful where equipment or digital systems are involved. Mathematics and science skills can further support performance in relevant settings. Collectively, these skills provide multiple pathways for individuals with different strengths to contribute, even without traditional educational credentials.
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