Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in Owensboro, KY is $61,250/year ($29.45/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.61), which stretches that salary to about $69,123 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 27.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $61K get you in Owensboro?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Owensboro’s Regional Price Parity (88.61). 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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What this looks like in Owensboro
Owensboro sits well above the national pay line for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders, local pay runs about 42% higher than the U.S. median of $43K. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.61 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in metros near Owensboro, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $49K | $52K |
| Bowling Green | $46K | $51K |
| Lexington-Fayette | $46K | $49K |
| Paducah | $38K | $44K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Owensboro, KY
Entry-level packaging and filling machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $22K 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
View Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $49K | +14% | 620 |
| Wyoming | $49K | +13% | 360 |
| Missouri | $48K | +11% | 12,620 |
| Maine | $48K | +11% | 1,490 |
| North Dakota | $47K | +10% | 760 |
| Idaho | $47K | +8% | 3,950 |
| Vermont | $47K | +8% | 880 |
| West Virginia | $46K | +7% | 810 |
| Wisconsin | $46K | +7% | 16,150 |
| Nebraska | $46K | +7% | 4,410 |
| Colorado | $46K | +6% | 4,760 |
| Iowa | $46K | +6% | 6,990 |
| Kentucky | $45K | +5% | 8,640 |
| Oregon | $45K | +5% | 5,370 |
| Virginia | $45K | +4% | 6,150 |
| Kansas | $45K | +4% | 7,920 |
| Indiana | $45K | +3% | 12,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $44K | +3% | 19,340 |
| Montana | $44K | +3% | 380 |
| California | $44K | +2% | 43,430 |
| South Dakota | $44K | +1% | 1,000 |
| Utah | $44K | +1% | 6,350 |
| Maryland | $44K | +1% | 3,030 |
| Ohio | $43K | +0% | 17,850 |
| Tennessee | $43K | -0% | 7,400 |
| Illinois | $43K | -0% | 29,400 |
| Georgia | $43K | -1% | 11,380 |
| Washington | $42K | -4% | 8,450 |
| Michigan | $42K | -4% | 10,940 |
| North Carolina | $41K | -5% | 11,870 |
| Minnesota | $41K | -5% | 7,340 |
| Arizona | $41K | -6% | 7,090 |
| Massachusetts | $40K | -7% | 5,020 |
| New Jersey | $40K | -7% | 9,810 |
| South Carolina | $40K | -7% | 4,890 |
| Connecticut | $39K | -9% | 1,540 |
| New York | $39K | -9% | 18,150 |
| Oklahoma | $39K | -9% | 3,150 |
| Texas | $39K | -10% | 22,970 |
| Alaska | $39K | -10% | 260 |
| Delaware | $39K | -11% | 680 |
| Louisiana | $38K | -11% | 1,910 |
| Rhode Island | $38K | -11% | 1,100 |
| Alabama | $38K | -12% | 3,240 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -13% | 4,630 |
| Mississippi | $38K | -13% | 3,030 |
| Nevada | $37K | -13% | 2,700 |
| Florida | $37K | -14% | 14,010 |
| Hawaii | $37K | -15% | 380 |
| New Mexico | $36K | -18% | 1,550 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
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 Owensboro numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a packaging and filling machine operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Owensboro?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 27.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in Owensboro?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new packaging and filling machine operators and tenders typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,539/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Owensboro?
Local pay is 42% above the national median — $61K here vs. $43K nationally.
How does Owensboro compare to the national average for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders?
Owensboro pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $43K — that’s +42%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.61), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do packaging and filling machine operators and tenders make in Owensboro, KY?
The median is $61,250 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,320, and experienced packaging and filling machine operators and tenders can clear $64,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Owensboro?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,067/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 27.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders salary go in Owensboro?
Owensboro has a Regional Price Parity of 88.61 (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 $69,123 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.