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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Packers and Packagers, Hand Salary

Packers and Packagers, Hand earn a median $36,280 a year nationally. Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

U.S. median
$36,280
$17.44 per hour
Range
$27,890 – $47,100
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
559,820
across the U.S.
▲2.0%
Pay trend: The median for packers and packagers, hand in the U.S. rose from $35,580 (May 2024) to $36,280 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

What packers and packagers, hand do

Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.

Typical education
No formal educational credential
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
-5.0% (declining)
Openings per year
61,800
Self-employed
1%

Employment of packers and packagers, hand is projected to shrink 5.0% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 61,800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Packers and Packagers, Hand take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Packers and Packagers, Hand
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$31,331
per year · effective tax rate 13.6%
$2,611Monthly
$1,305Twice a month
$1,205Every 2 weeks
$15.06Hourly
  • Federal income tax$2,174
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,249
  • Medicare (1.45%)$526
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$31,331

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$27,890$13.41$24,577
25th percentile$32,220$15.49$28,069
Median (50th)$36,280$17.44$31,331
75th percentile$43,060$20.70$36,779
90th percentile (top earners)$47,100$22.64$40,025

Best cities for packers and packagers, hand (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Kansas City, MO$44,460$36,751$39,7138,890
2Philadelphia, PA$43,970$36,160$35,25923,180
3Cleveland, OH$37,440$32,016$34,0873,600
4Columbus, OH$38,090$32,520$34,0646,050
5Seattle, WA$44,010$37,542$33,7814,270
6Memphis, TN$35,630$30,809$33,4233,080
7St. Louis, MO$37,280$31,320$32,9382,690
8Cincinnati, OH$36,650$31,403$32,9273,570
9Denver, CO$41,350$34,294$32,4192,800
10Nashville, TN$36,000$31,106$32,2884,350
11Indianapolis, IN$37,040$30,878$32,2673,330
12Charlotte, NC$37,030$30,965$31,8086,500
13San Jose, CA$42,410$35,019$31,7143,600
14Allentown, PA$37,970$31,523$31,5332,850
15Minneapolis, MN$39,890$32,916$31,4023,070
16New York, NY$43,450$35,343$31,39851,020
17Austin, TX$35,490$30,696$31,3022,930
18Grand Rapids, MI$35,570$29,500$30,8753,950
19Phoenix, AZ$37,840$31,847$30,8255,140
20Las Vegas, NV$35,700$30,865$30,7992,420
21Milwaukee, WI$35,070$29,597$30,5324,030
22Vineland, NJ$34,010$28,999$30,2182,380
23San Antonio, TX$32,760$28,503$30,0933,040
24Riverside, CA$38,400$32,010$30,07310,560
25Detroit, MI$36,120$29,918$29,8295,860

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Packers and Packagers, Hand salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Kansas $44,460+24.7%$36,222 $30,060 – $45,3809,900
New Jersey $43,840+2.5%$36,531 $32,220 – $47,31071,260
Alaska $41,670+3.2%$35,662 $25,620 – $60,440560
District of Columbia $40,910+1.7%$33,763 $36,910 – $49,510170
Colorado $40,730+4.4%$33,823 $35,510 – $50,3104,120
Minnesota $40,310+4.6%$33,231 $29,590 – $50,9305,460
Vermont $39,440+1.8%$32,983 $32,830 – $46,270810
Washington $39,220+7.9%$33,693 $34,740 – $53,51011,940
Nebraska $38,880+2.5%$32,531 $28,870 – $49,5003,010
Missouri $37,670+2.2%$31,615 $29,890 – $46,8005,910
Iowa $37,470+5.1%$31,515 $29,870 – $48,0004,090
Indiana $37,420−3.2%$31,173 $30,180 – $48,9609,690
Nevada $37,400−2.9%$32,231 $28,520 – $47,5203,750
Delaware $37,290+5.8%$30,750 $32,830 – $57,2502,030
California $37,260+1.9%$31,154 $34,360 – $48,33079,730
New York $37,260+3.1%$30,703 $32,830 – $47,72014,830
Arizona $37,060−0.9%$31,240 $30,580 – $47,9507,380
Ohio $37,000+0.0%$31,674 $29,780 – $47,36020,700
Pennsylvania $36,960+0.8%$30,743 $28,870 – $48,19022,990
Idaho $36,920+1.8%$30,997 $23,000 – $48,1502,020
Kentucky $36,850+0.2%$30,617 $29,430 – $50,3105,900
Rhode Island $36,730+9.4%$30,932 $31,200 – $48,3101,830
Maine $36,330−3.5%$30,056 $30,470 – $45,8601,460
Oregon $36,190+2.0%$28,922 $31,100 – $45,4006,370
Illinois $36,090−0.5%$29,537 $31,240 – $46,57023,270
Utah $36,060+1.8%$30,498 $22,880 – $46,2405,740
Wisconsin $36,010−2.2%$30,311 $28,080 – $47,70013,130
Tennessee $35,980+4.8%$31,090 $26,940 – $46,99014,030
Hawaii $35,930+5.2%$29,756 $29,120 – $50,0302,010
Connecticut $35,890+0.7%$30,328 $34,010 – $46,6204,280
Maryland $35,860+2.2%$29,654 $31,390 – $47,3404,230
Michigan $35,340−1.7%$29,324 $29,400 – $43,86015,590
Virginia $35,000−1.7%$29,104 $27,240 – $46,8807,790
Montana $34,960+2.7%$29,384 $22,980 – $45,9501,490
Oklahoma $34,520+5.9%$28,909 $22,660 – $44,0303,900
North Carolina $34,360+2.9%$28,926 $24,500 – $45,35019,600
Massachusetts $34,200+0.3%$28,170 $31,270 – $44,01015,330
Arkansas $33,930+3.6%$28,332 $27,900 – $46,0803,050
Georgia $33,260+1.9%$27,801 $26,430 – $45,51017,380
Mississippi $33,240+4.8%$28,291 $20,570 – $44,5303,490
Texas $33,090+6.0%$28,768 $23,550 – $44,22046,510
South Carolina $32,180+4.4%$27,263 $25,870 – $44,0507,610
Wyoming $32,110+13.5%$27,980 $23,310 – $42,180340
Alabama $31,770+14.7%$26,384 $23,390 – $43,4107,050
North Dakota $31,440+10.4%$27,442 $22,240 – $42,480470
New Hampshire $30,700−3.5%$26,847 $29,210 – $40,1003,300
South Dakota $28,760−3.3%$25,289 $24,110 – $43,5601,040
West Virginia $28,740−13.2%$24,549 $21,970 – $44,4801,140
Florida $28,280+2.9%$24,899 $27,080 – $42,99038,860
New Mexico $28,070−5.6%$24,436 $25,670 – $45,2201,050
Louisiana $27,710−0.7%$23,984 $19,700 – $46,5802,280

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment$35,830No formal educational credential+3.9%
Stocker and Order Filler$37,330No formal educational credential+8.9%
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240No formal educational credential+1.8%
Machine Feeder and Offbearer$41,220No formal educational credential-13.1%
Material Moving Workers, All Other$41,800No formal educational credential+2.7%
Conveyor Operator and Tender$42,420No formal educational credential-2.6%
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator$46,420No formal educational credential+1.5%
Dredge Operator$49,640High school diploma or equivalent+0.7%
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690No formal educational credential+2.1%
Hoist and Winch Operator$56,450No formal educational credential+0.2%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a packers and packagers, hand make?

The national median salary for packers and packagers, hand is $36,280 a year ($17.44 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,890 and the top 10% earn over $47,100. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays packers and packagers, hand the most?

Kansas has the highest median pay at $44,460. After taxes and local prices, Kansas City, MO offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many packers and packagers, hand are there in the U.S.?

About 559,820 people work as packers and packagers, hand nationwide.

All 47 cities