Packers and Packagers, Hand
SOC 53-7064 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Packers and Packagers, Hand is $34,830, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $35,450, and an estimated 645,210 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +24.2% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +5.5% after inflation. BLS projects employment will shrink 5.4% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Packers and Packagers, Hand has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $34,830 | $34,830 | 645,210 |
| 2022 | $32,920 | $34,275 | 653,870 |
| 2021 | $29,940 | $33,667 | 585,270 |
| 2020 | $28,050 | $33,024 | 599,270 |
Nominal change
+24.2%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+5.5%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-5.4%
Declining
Employment 2024
591,800
Projected 2034
559,700
Annual Openings
74,000
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Packers and Packagers, Hand earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $34,830. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $41,010 | +17.7% | 740 |
| New Jersey | $40,990 | +17.7% | 71,410 |
| Alaska | $39,880 | +14.5% | 880 |
| Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $39,540 | +13.5% | 610 |
| Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $38,890 | +11.7% | 1,640 |
| Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $38,550 | +10.7% | 1,040 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $37,850 | +8.7% | 570 |
| Central Utah nonmetropolitan area | $37,560 | +7.8% | 490 |
| Colorado | $37,440 | +7.5% | 4,710 |
| District of Columbia | $37,390 | +7.3% | 210 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$25,880
25th Pct
$30,220
Median
$34,830
75th Pct
$39,580
90th Pct
$45,100
Related Occupations in Transportation & Material Moving
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.