Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in State College, PA
The median pay for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in State College, PA is $44,350/year ($21.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.76), that's roughly $45,835 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,406/month — about 45.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $44K get you in State College?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by State College’s Regional Price Parity (96.76). 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, State College, PA
Entry-level packaging and filling machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $16K 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 State College numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do packaging and filling machine operators and tenders make in State College, PA?
The median is $44,350 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,350, and experienced packaging and filling machine operators and tenders can clear $52,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in State College?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,026/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,406/month, which eats 46.5% 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 State College?
State College has a Regional Price Parity of 96.76 (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 $45,835 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.