SOC 51-9111 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders — Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in Grand Rapids, MI is $41,890 per year, close to the national median of $43,220 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in Grand Rapids, MI is $41,890 per year, close to the national median of $43,220 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $31,890 at the tenth percentile to more than $63,190 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,290 to $49,020.
Employment stands at 3,980, or 6.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Traverse City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $54,020. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 452nd of 572 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,890 | −26.2% |
| 25th | $36,290 | −16.0% |
| Median (50th) | $41,890 | −3.1% |
| 75th | $49,020 | +13.4% |
| 90th | $63,190 | +46.2% |
| Mean | $44,670 | +3.4% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Traverse City | $54,020 | 200 | |
| 2 | Battle Creek | $49,910 | 390 | |
| 3 | Kalamazoo | $48,800 | 510 | |
| 4 | Bay City | $47,350 | 190 | |
| 5 | Monroe | $44,990 | 90 | |
| 6 | Saginaw | $43,800 | 80 | |
| 7 | Muskegon | $42,020 | 200 | |
| 8 | Ann Arbor | $40,840 | 260 | |
| 9 | Detroit | $39,300 | 2,700 | |
| 10 | Flint | $37,920 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Grand Rapids run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $41,890 goes as far as $43,545 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$41,890as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$43,545US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $41,890 a year, 3.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,890 to $63,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,980 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Traverse City, at $54,020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in Grand Rapids, MI?
The median annual wage is $41,890, or $20.14 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 Grand Rapids, MI is 3.1% 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 Grand Rapids, MI earns more than $63,190 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,890 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 Traverse City, at $54,020 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,980 jobs in this occupation in Grand Rapids, MI. 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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