Salary guide, May 2025
Packaging Operator pay in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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The median annual wage for Industrial Machinery Mechanics in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC was $63,140 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $53,950 and $77,280.
The Durham-Chapel Hill, NC median is $1,380 below the national median of $64,520, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 49-9041 Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Packaging Operator 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.
What should you know about durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $48,250 | $53,950 | $63,140 | $77,280 | $83,190 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $23.20 | $25.94 | $30.35 | $37.15 | $40.00 |
BLS estimated 540 workers employed in this occupation in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC. Location quotient: 0.56.
What should you know about united States?
| 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 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Packaging Operator median is $63,140. The all-occupations median in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $60,720. Ratio: 1.04 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.56 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $53,130 | $61,500 | $77,320 |
| May 2025 | $53,950 | $63,140 | $77,280 |
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.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 49-9041 Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
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.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NC | $48,490 | $41,290 to $65,870 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $60,320 | $47,580 to $72,230 |
All roles in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC · National page · Packaging Operator ranked across metros