Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in Florida is $37,170/year ($17.87/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $37,705 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 62% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Florida?
About packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Florida
Pay for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in Florida runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $43K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,658/month, which is 62.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for packaging and filling machine operators and tenderss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level packaging and filling machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Florida
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $39K | +5% | 1,490 |
| Tallahassee | $38K | +3% | 80 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $38K | +3% | 700 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $38K | +2% | 2,520 |
| Gainesville | $38K | +2% | 110 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $38K | +2% | 1,720 |
| Jacksonville | $37K | +1% | 870 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $36K | -4% | 4,110 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $36K | -4% | 150 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $35K | -6% | 270 |
| Ocala | $35K | -6% | 180 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $34K | -9% | 140 |
| Port St. Lucie | $30K | -19% | 220 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a packaging and filling machine operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 62.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new packaging and filling machine operators and tenders typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,742/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 95% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is packaging and filling machine operators and tender a high-paying job in Florida?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $37K here vs. $43K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders?
Florida pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $43K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — below the national median.
How much do packaging and filling machine operators and tenders make in Florida?
The median is $37,170 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,040, and experienced packaging and filling machine operators and tenders can clear $50,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,659/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 62.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders salary go in Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median packaging and filling machine operators and tenders salary is worth about $37,705 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do packaging and filling machine operators and tenders get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.