SOC 51-9111 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders — Florida
Florida · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Florida is $37,170 a year, trailing the national median of $43,220 by 14.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Florida is $37,170 a year, trailing the national median of $43,220 by 14.0%. Half of workers earn between $31,840 and $45,350. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $29,040 and the ninetieth at $50,800.
The area has 14,010 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.4 of every thousand jobs. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Florida ranks 48th by median wage. Lakeland leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $39,170. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 678th of 777 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,040 | −32.8% |
| 25th | $31,840 | −26.3% |
| Median (50th) | $37,170 | −14.0% |
| 75th | $45,350 | +4.9% |
| 90th | $50,800 | +17.5% |
| Mean | $39,780 | −8.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lakeland | $39,170 | 1,490 | |
| 2 | Tallahassee | $38,460 | 80 | |
| 3 | North Port | $38,240 | 700 | |
| 4 | Gainesville | $38,070 | 110 | |
| 5 | Tampa | $38,070 | 2,520 | |
| 6 | Orlando | $37,930 | 1,720 | |
| 7 | Jacksonville | $37,470 | 870 | |
| 8 | Miami | $35,810 | 4,110 | |
| 9 | Cape Coral | $35,760 | 150 | |
| 10 | Deltona | $34,850 | 270 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Florida run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $37,170 buys what $35,948 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 16.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$37,170as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,948US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $37,170 a year, 14.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,040 to $50,800 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 14,010 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 48th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lakeland, at $39,170.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in Florida?
The median annual wage is $37,170, or $17.87 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $43,220, so pay in Florida is 14.0% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Florida earns more than $50,800 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,040 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Lakeland, at $39,170 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 14,010 jobs in this occupation in Florida. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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