Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in Kentucky is $45,450/year ($21.85/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $50,371 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 35.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Kentucky?
About packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $45K locally vs. $43K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,110/month, which is 36.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level packaging and filling machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Kentucky
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro | $61K | +35% | 980 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $49K | +7% | 2,410 |
| Bowling Green | $46K | +2% | 480 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $46K | +0% | 380 |
| Elizabethtown | $39K | -14% | 30 |
| Paducah | $38K | -16% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track packaging and filling machine operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a packaging and filling machine operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 36.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new packaging and filling machine operators and tenders typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,115/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $45K locally vs. $43K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders?
Kentucky pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $43K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do packaging and filling machine operators and tenders make in Kentucky?
The median is $45,450 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,250, and experienced packaging and filling machine operators and tenders can clear $61,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,062/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 36.3% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $50,371 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.