Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender Salary in Houston, TX
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $37,770 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,528 take-home, or $2,711 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median packaging and filling machine operator and tender salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,352
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,342
- Medicare (1.45%)$548
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$32,528
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
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 Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,520 | $12.27 | $22,626 | $1,885 |
| 25th percentile | $31,600 | $15.19 | $27,571 | $2,298 |
| Median (50th) | $37,770 | $18.16 | $32,528 | $2,711 |
| 75th percentile | $46,820 | $22.51 | $39,800 | $3,317 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,390 | $32.40 | $56,239 | $4,687 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,770 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median packaging and filling machine operator and tender's $32,528 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,980 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender jobs are less concentrated in Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.53), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | Houston, TX | $37,770 | $32,528 | $32,980 |
*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.
Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender salaries elsewhere in Texas
- San Antonio, TX — $38,210
- Dallas, TX — $40,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a packaging and filling machine operator and tender make in Houston, TX?
The median packaging and filling machine operator and tender salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $37,770 a year, or about $18.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,600 and $46,820.
What is a packaging and filling machine operator and tender’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $37,770 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $32,528 a year ($2,711 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a packaging and filling machine operator and tender?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $43,220. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,980 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #20 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 Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median packaging and filling machine operator and tender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
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- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $50,280
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- Butcher and Meat Cutter — $38,120