Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
The median pay for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN is $39,740/year ($19.1/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $55K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.43), which stretches that salary to about $42,535 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,242/month — about 45% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $40K get you in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lafayette-West Lafayette’s Regional Price Parity (93.43). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Entry-level packaging and filling machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $55K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $49K | +19% | 380 |
| Maine | $48K | +17% | 1,480 |
| West Virginia | $47K | +16% | 950 |
| Missouri | $47K | +15% | 10,380 |
| Idaho | $46K | +14% | 3,390 |
| New Hampshire | $46K | +13% | 550 |
| Virginia | $46K | +13% | 6,890 |
| Tennessee | $46K | +11% | 7,600 |
| North Dakota | $45K | +11% | 910 |
| Nebraska | $45K | +9% | 3,800 |
| Wisconsin | $44K | +8% | 16,500 |
| Iowa | $44K | +7% | 7,460 |
| Vermont | $44K | +7% | 830 |
| California | $44K | +7% | 45,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $43K | +6% | 18,940 |
| Minnesota | $43K | +6% | 7,700 |
| Kentucky | $43K | +6% | 9,220 |
| Kansas | $43K | +5% | 7,180 |
| Indiana | $43K | +5% | 12,260 |
| Oregon | $43K | +4% | 5,400 |
| Maryland | $42K | +3% | 2,290 |
| New Jersey | $42K | +3% | 9,120 |
| Montana | $41K | +1% | 620 |
| South Dakota | $41K | +0% | 840 |
| Illinois | $41K | +0% | 29,460 |
| Georgia | $41K | +0% | 13,010 |
| Ohio | $41K | -0% | 18,870 |
| North Carolina | $41K | -1% | 13,460 |
| Washington | $41K | -1% | 7,860 |
| Utah | $40K | -1% | 5,280 |
| New York | $40K | -2% | 17,530 |
| Arizona | $40K | -3% | 4,970 |
| Rhode Island | $39K | -4% | 950 |
| Massachusetts | $39K | -5% | 6,060 |
| Connecticut | $38K | -7% | 1,840 |
| Michigan | $38K | -7% | 15,750 |
| Alaska | $38K | -7% | 310 |
| South Carolina | $38K | -7% | 5,910 |
| Oklahoma | $38K | -8% | 3,500 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -8% | 5,130 |
| Nevada | $37K | -8% | 2,220 |
| Texas | $37K | -9% | 19,750 |
| Mississippi | $37K | -9% | 3,830 |
| Delaware | $37K | -11% | 730 |
| Florida | $37K | -11% | 16,190 |
| New Mexico | $36K | -12% | 1,520 |
| Alabama | $36K | -13% | 3,770 |
| Hawaii | $32K | -23% | 360 |
| Louisiana | $31K | -25% | 1,480 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track packaging and filling machine operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lafayette-West Lafayette numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do packaging and filling machine operators and tenders make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The median is $39,740 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,560, and experienced packaging and filling machine operators and tenders can clear $55,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,730/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,242/month, which eats 45.5% 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Lafayette-West Lafayette has a Regional Price Parity of 93.43 (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 $42,535 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.