Salary guide, May 2025
Lead Packaging Technician pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Industrial Machinery Mechanics in the United States was $64,520 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $55,010 and $78,780.
Broader occupation · SOC 49-9041 Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Lead Packaging Technician is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $46,120 | $55,010 | $64,520 | $78,780 | $95,170 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $22.17 | $26.45 | $31.02 | $37.88 | $45.76 |
BLS estimated 439,640 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 49-9041 Industrial Machinery Mechanics, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $61,620 | $48,790 to $76,430 | 3,760 | 0.47 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $60,970 | $47,500 to $74,810 | 2,770 | 0.68 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $60,150 | $47,380 to $74,160 | 2,440 | 0.61 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $62,080 | $50,830 to $75,220 | 1,360 | 0.65 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $75,260 | $59,970 to $92,480 | 10,780 | 0.4 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $75,260 | $59,970 to $92,480 | 10,780 | 0.4 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $63,380 | $51,240 to $78,220 | 12,730 | 1.11 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $75,800 | $61,930 to $91,000 | 8,710 | 0.68 |
Rank every metro for Lead Packaging Technician
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$94,200
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$94,200
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$83,790
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$83,320
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$81,810
- Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing$79,970
- Paper Manufacturing$77,960
- Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)$77,440
- Beverage Manufacturing$76,760
- Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing$76,710
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing$76,220
- Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing$76,070
- Chemical Manufacturing$75,680
- Tobacco Manufacturing$73,170
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing$72,430
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 232,500 | $57,860 | $65,710 | $78,710 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 39,200 | $56,930 | $63,890 | $75,950 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 26,190 | $60,410 | $72,430 | $83,790 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 24,740 | $57,200 | $64,050 | $77,600 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 21,410 | $61,460 | $75,680 | $88,480 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 18,570 | $56,810 | $63,970 | $77,740 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 18,330 | $50,280 | $61,610 | $72,970 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 17,940 | $57,260 | $63,970 | $76,140 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 17,240 | $60,080 | $69,550 | $76,260 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 14,570 | $56,490 | $63,420 | $75,250 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 13,230 | $64,890 | $77,960 | $87,680 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 13,210 | $55,880 | $64,220 | $77,720 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 12,050 | $62,300 | $77,440 | $93,420 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 9,790 | $49,060 | $59,600 | $66,460 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 9,560 | $55,380 | $66,350 | $83,030 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 7,550 | $60,080 | $67,610 | $72,080 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 7,420 | $58,750 | $66,620 | $77,520 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 7,420 | $58,750 | $66,620 | $77,520 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 7,290 | $58,550 | $63,310 | $74,840 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 7,120 | $51,890 | $63,320 | $75,190 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 6,780 | $49,270 | $59,880 | $69,510 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 6,740 | $61,890 | $76,070 | $81,450 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 6,700 | $61,230 | $70,680 | $78,980 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 6,530 | $77,230 | $83,320 | $93,390 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 6,300 | $59,160 | $71,210 | $88,990 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 6,150 | $62,340 | $76,760 | $81,760 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 6,040 | $56,540 | $62,020 | $77,080 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 6,010 | $50,260 | $60,800 | $71,870 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 5,950 | $59,910 | $68,160 | $79,460 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 5,740 | $61,050 | $76,220 | $83,190 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 5,460 | $73,000 | $83,790 | $104,110 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 4,960 | $60,920 | $69,030 | $77,060 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 4,830 | $60,370 | $66,890 | $76,110 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 4,620 | $72,200 | $81,810 | $91,790 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 4,560 | $74,990 | $94,200 | $112,320 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 4,560 | $74,990 | $94,200 | $112,320 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 3,900 | $45,760 | $51,560 | $60,630 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 3,640 | $53,700 | $63,480 | $76,460 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 3,620 | $59,200 | $65,160 | $78,260 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 3,380 | $59,920 | $68,830 | $79,900 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 3,170 | $55,420 | $63,770 | $74,600 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 3,010 | $51,310 | $61,310 | $71,620 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 2,760 | $57,650 | $63,430 | $76,280 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 2,560 | $46,750 | $62,860 | $78,930 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 2,440 | $62,560 | $76,710 | $83,030 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 2,380 | $47,460 | $53,570 | $62,250 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 2,370 | $60,840 | $71,530 | $77,810 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 2,330 | $50,580 | $60,500 | $71,530 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 2,320 | $48,100 | $59,260 | $70,220 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 2,260 | $55,320 | $64,480 | $78,170 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 2,260 | $56,430 | $64,220 | $77,960 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 2,190 | $62,350 | $71,880 | $79,870 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 2,180 | $63,440 | $72,420 | $77,580 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 2,080 | $50,740 | $59,070 | $65,740 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 2,040 | $49,730 | $58,750 | $65,080 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 2,010 | $59,950 | $70,530 | $79,000 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 1,890 | $57,530 | $68,350 | $78,540 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 1,890 | $54,980 | $59,430 | $68,200 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 1,750 | $52,000 | $61,880 | $73,130 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 1,750 | $52,000 | $61,880 | $73,130 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 1,720 | $50,740 | $58,220 | $64,810 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,640 | $57,950 | $65,520 | $77,080 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 1,630 | $47,390 | $57,610 | $62,400 |
| 311100 | Animal Food Manufacturing | 1,590 | $51,740 | $60,370 | $72,090 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 1,460 | $49,990 | $61,020 | $74,440 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 1,420 | $50,170 | $62,660 | $70,390 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 1,380 | $55,490 | $64,620 | $70,480 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,380 | $50,750 | $62,360 | $73,110 |
| 314100 | Textile Furnishings Mills | 1,290 | $48,460 | $58,080 | $62,400 |
| 313100 | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 1,220 | $42,630 | $48,360 | $56,050 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 1,140 | $53,380 | $65,670 | $81,250 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 870 | $51,610 | $62,250 | $69,350 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 690 | $58,790 | $62,870 | $71,950 |
| 315000 | Apparel Manufacturing | 660 | $39,700 | $42,550 | $51,790 |
| 311700 | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 610 | $44,890 | $54,640 | $64,800 |
| 312200 | Tobacco Manufacturing | 590 | $58,520 | $73,170 | $78,470 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 520 | $66,070 | $79,970 | $85,690 |
| 315100 | Apparel Knitting Mills | 390 | $37,460 | $40,600 | $44,610 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 360 | $57,480 | $65,320 | $73,600 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 350 | $51,160 | $60,130 | $70,340 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | 340 | $40,560 | $50,440 | $61,470 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 320 | $57,790 | $63,720 | $73,850 |
| 313300 | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 300 | $48,300 | $58,760 | $67,920 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 290 | $44,910 | $47,520 | $59,040 |
| 316000 | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 210 | $41,050 | $57,390 | $61,830 |
| 315200 | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 200 | $42,380 | $45,880 | $62,340 |
| 316200 | Footwear Manufacturing | 180 | $45,070 | $58,680 | $65,210 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 100 | $46,720 | $47,430 | $69,280 |
| 315900 | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | 80 | $43,470 | $56,950 | $58,830 |
| 334600 | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 50 | $54,060 | $59,570 | $61,250 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Lead Packaging Technician, write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $52,710 | $63,760 | $78,070 |
| May 2025 | $55,010 | $64,520 | $78,780 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
What should you know about supervisory and worker occupations?
BLS publishes these as separate occupations. Pay for one is not a pay step for the other.
- Supervisor occupation: Maintenance Manager pay (SOC 49-1011)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about a move that can hold up?
Someone working in packaging technicians already guiding difficult equipment recovery needs a clear reason to leave. Explain how your opening changes their responsibility for packaging-equipment repairs and technical guidance on line problems. If the answer depends on authority over packaging-equipment repairs and technical guidance on line problems that you cannot offer, that mismatch belongs in the conversation before an offer.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Lead Packaging Technician?
The median annual wage for Industrial Machinery Mechanics in the United States was $64,520 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $55,010 and $78,780. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $46,120. 90% earned less than $95,170.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Lead Packaging Technician at a plant?
Lead Packaging Technician is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 439,640 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
The Lead Packaging Technician role, classified under Industrial Machinery Mechanics (SOC 49-9041), functions as a specialized technical leadership position within manufacturing environments. This role requires solving line issues and managing technical interfaces rather than performing broad administrative staff oversight. Because BLS OEWS does not publish specific plant titles, seniority, or shift differentials, this data covers the broader occupation.
Hiring managers must assess specific candidate credentials against these standard duties.
The current national median for this occupation is $64,520, representing a $760 increase from May 2024. The middle band width for this occupation is $23,770, defined by the P25 at $55,010 and the P75 at $78,780. In comparison, industry-specific national medians for Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing sit at $94,200, while Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing reflects a $83,790 median. These figures illustrate the salary variances tied to specific industrial environments compared to the broader national occupational baseline.
The two metros with the highest occupational employment for this mechanic role are Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX. Houston reports a median of $63,180 with a $28,280 middle band width. Dallas-Fort Worth reports a $63,380 median with a $26,980 middle band width. Manufacturing Headhunters observes that the location quotient, such as the 1.97 quotient in Houston, measures employment concentration rather than candidate availability or localized pay premiums. These regions show consistent median figures slightly lower than the national $64,520 median.
The data is limited to official OEWS reporting. BLS excludes total compensation packages including bonuses, shift differentials, and equity, meaning these cash medians do not reflect the full cost of labor. The reported middle band width and the $760 median change are calculated directly from the provided statistics. We do not estimate values outside of the current dataset, nor do we infer local market causes for wage differences.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How should I interpret the national industry medians provided?
The industry-specific medians represent national data for the broader SOC 49-9041 classification within those specific NAICS sectors. These are not local, but they provide benchmarks for how specialized manufacturing settings typically value technical maintenance skills.
What does the middle band width mean for recruiting?
The $23,770 width indicates the salary range between the 25th and 75th percentiles nationally for these mechanics. This range captures the majority of market activity while excluding the extremes of entry-level and master-level pay.
Are these figures estimates for Lead Packaging Technician roles?
No: The figures are sourced directly from the provided BLS OEWS May 2025 data for the broader occupation, as no unique subset exists for this specific technical title.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4