Transportation & Logistics
Packers and Packagers, Hand
Also called: Bagger, Crater, Mini Shifter, Pack Out Operator
US median pay
$36,280
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-5%
declining
Openings a year (US)
61,800
555,500 employed
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.
What they do day to day
- Examine and inspect containers, materials, or products to ensure that product quality and packing specifications are met.
- Measure, weigh, and count products and materials.
- Record product, packaging, and order information on specified forms and records.
- Seal containers or materials, using glues, fasteners, nails, and hand tools.
- Assemble, line, and pad cartons, crates, and containers, using hand tools.
- Obtain, move, and sort products, materials, containers, and orders, using hand tools.
- Mark and label containers, container tags, or products, using marking tools.
- Clean containers, materials, supplies, or work areas, using cleaning solutions and hand tools.
- Remove completed or defective products or materials, placing them on moving equipment, such as conveyors, or in specified areas, such as loading docks.
- Place or pour products or materials into containers, using hand tools and equipment, or fill containers from spouts or chutes.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Coordination2.6/5
- Time Management2.2/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.2/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.2/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.1/5
- Service Orientation2.1/5
- Operations Monitoring2.1/5
- Operation and Control2.0/5
Knowledge
- Production and Processing4.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.2/5
- English Language3.0/5
- Administrative2.8/5
- Mathematics2.7/5
- Public Safety and Security2.7/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): No formal educational credential.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma54%
- Less than high school33%
- Some college14%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.