SalaryExplorer

SOC 53-7064 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Packers and Packagers, HandEast Kentucky

East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area · 6 metro areas compared

$38,010 /year
$18.28per hour
80jobs in area
+4.8%vs US median

At $38,010, median pay for Packers and Packagers, Hand in East Kentucky, KY tracks the national median of $36,280 closely.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $36,28010TH$21,680MEDIAN$38,01090TH$53,740

Salary overview

At $38,010, median pay for Packers and Packagers, Hand in East Kentucky, KY tracks the national median of $36,280 closely. Pay ranges from under $21,680 at the tenth percentile to more than $53,740 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $25,020 to $50,280.

The area has 80 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.24 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Louisville/Jefferson County records the highest median at $37,500. Of the 252 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 173rd.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$21,680−40.2%
25th$25,020−31.0%
Median (50th)$38,010+4.8%
75th$50,280+38.6%
90th$53,740+48.1%
Mean$38,380+5.8%

Other metro areas in Kentucky

Median annual wage for Packers and Packagers, Hand, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Louisville/Jefferson County$37,5002,280
2Owensboro$37,18080
3Lexington$36,190530
4Elizabethtown$34,69060
5Bowling Green$33,310320
6Paducah$32,83090

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in East Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $38,010 goes as far as $42,140 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.2% above the national median in real terms.

Published median

$38,010as reported by BLS

Local price level

90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$42,140US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $38,010 a year, 4.8% above the national median.
  • Published pay spans $21,680 to $53,740 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 80 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Louisville/Jefferson County, at $37,500.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Packers and Packagers, Hand in East Kentucky, KY?

The median annual wage is $38,010, or $18.28 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 $36,280, so pay in East Kentucky, KY is 4.8% higher. 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 East Kentucky, KY earns more than $53,740 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $21,680 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, at $37,500 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 80 jobs in this occupation in East Kentucky, KY. 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.

Packers and Packagers, Hand Salary in East Kentucky, KY (2025): $38,010 Median | Salary Explorer