National
| Median wages (2008) |
$11.73 hourly, $24,400 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
386,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Decline slowly or moderately (-3% to -9%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
72,000 additional employees |
51-9111.00 - Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.
Sample of reported job titles:
Machine Operator, A-Operator, Fabrication Technician, Adjuster/Packer, Chemical Operator, Filler Operator, Pressman
Tasks
- Observe machine operations to ensure quality and conformity of filled or packaged products to standards.
- Adjust machine components and machine tension and pressure according to size or processing angle of product.
- Tend or operate machine that packages product.
- Remove finished packaged items from machine and separate rejected items.
- Regulate machine flow, speed, or temperature.
- Stop or reset machines when malfunctions occur, clear machine jams, and report malfunctions to a supervisor.
- Secure finished packaged items by hand tying, sewing, gluing, stapling, or attaching fastener.
- Stock and sort product for packaging or filling machine operation, and replenish packaging supplies, such as wrapping paper, plastic sheet, boxes, cartons, glue, ink, or labels.
- Inspect and remove defective products and packaging material.
- Clean and remove damaged or otherwise inferior materials to prepare raw products for processing.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Forklifts |
| Hand trucks or accessories — Handtrucks |
| Pallet trucks — Pallet jacks; Pallet movers |
| Razor knives — Box cutters; Scrapers |
| Screwdrivers — Phillips head screwdrivers; Straight screwdrivers |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Data base user interface and query software — Data entry software |
| Electronic mail software — Email software |
| Label making software — Label printing software |
| Spreadsheet software |
| Word processing software |
| 51-2021.00 |
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers |
| 51-4031.00 |
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 
|
| 51-4072.00 |
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4081.00 |
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
|
| 51-5011.00 |
Bindery Workers |
| 51-6031.00 |
Sewing Machine Operators |
| 51-9032.00 |
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
| 51-9041.00 |
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
| 53-7011.00 |
Conveyor Operators and Tenders |
