Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in Tuscaloosa, AL is $61,680/year ($29.66/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.72), which stretches that salary to about $70,315 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,169/month, or 28.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $62K get you in Tuscaloosa?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tuscaloosa’s Regional Price Parity (87.72). 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 Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa sits well above the national pay line for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders, local pay runs about 43% higher than the U.S. median of $43K. Rent runs $1,169/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.72 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% 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 Tuscaloosa, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $40K | $44K |
| Mobile | $46K | $52K |
| Decatur | $38K | $43K |
| Montgomery | $36K | $41K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tuscaloosa, AL
Entry-level packaging and filling machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $44K 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 Tuscaloosa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a packaging and filling machine operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tuscaloosa?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 28.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,169/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 Tuscaloosa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new packaging and filling machine operators and tenders typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,774/month. At HUD’s $1,169/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Tuscaloosa?
Local pay is 43% above the national median — $62K here vs. $43K nationally.
How does Tuscaloosa compare to the national average for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders?
Tuscaloosa pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $43K — that’s +43%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.72), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do packaging and filling machine operators and tenders make in Tuscaloosa, AL?
The median is $61,680 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,570, and experienced packaging and filling machine operators and tenders can clear $73,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Tuscaloosa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,057/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,169/month, which eats 28.8% 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 Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa has a Regional Price Parity of 87.72 (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 $70,315 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.