Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender Salary in Louisville, KY
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median $48,590 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,639 take-home, or $3,303 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median packaging and filling machine operator and tender salary in Louisville, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,651
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,013
- Medicare (1.45%)$705
- Kentucky income tax$1,583
- Take-home pay$39,639
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro spans Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender pay by experience in Louisville, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,340 | $17.47 | $30,225 | $2,519 |
| 25th percentile | $39,770 | $19.12 | $32,861 | $2,738 |
| Median (50th) | $48,590 | $23.36 | $39,639 | $3,303 |
| 75th percentile | $54,900 | $26.39 | $44,488 | $3,707 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,280 | $28.50 | $47,854 | $3,988 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,590 buys in Louisville, KY
Prices in Louisville, KY are 6.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median packaging and filling machine operator and tender's $39,639 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,589 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Louisville, KY has 1.4× the national concentration of packaging and filling machine operator and tender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders, adjusted for cost of living
Louisville, KY ranks #1 of 28 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville, KY | $48,590 | $39,639 | $42,589 |
| 2 | Kansas City, MO | $47,530 | $39,074 | $42,222 |
| 3 | St. Louis, MO | $47,460 | $39,021 | $41,037 |
| 4 | Cincinnati, OH | $45,570 | $38,325 | $40,185 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $45,600 | $38,348 | $40,168 |
| 6 | Indianapolis, IN | $45,290 | $37,264 | $38,940 |
| 7 | Charlotte, NC | $44,330 | $36,539 | $37,535 |
| 8 | Grand Rapids, MI | $41,890 | $34,309 | $35,908 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 28 metros →
About the job: packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.1% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a packaging and filling machine operator and tender make in Louisville, KY?
The median packaging and filling machine operator and tender salary in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $48,590 a year, or about $23.36 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,770 and $54,900.
What is a packaging and filling machine operator and tender’s take-home pay in Louisville, KY?
On the median $48,590 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $39,639 a year ($3,303 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,583 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Louisville, KY a good place to work as a packaging and filling machine operator and tender?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $43,220. Local prices are 6.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,589 would in a typical U.S. city. Louisville, KY ranks #1 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a packaging and filling machine operator and tender afford rent in Louisville, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Louisville, KY is $1,026 a month ($1,248 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median packaging and filling machine operator and tender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.