As of May 18, 2021, the average hourly rate for a Packaging Engineer I in the United States is $37, which translates to an annual salary of about $77,621.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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A Packaging Engineer I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Packaging Engineer I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging Engineer I | 0-2 years | $77,621 |
| Packaging Engineer II | 2-4 years | $88,500 |
| Packaging Engineer III | 4-7 years | $105,102 |
| Packaging Engineer IV | 7+ years | $129,461 |
| Packaging Engineer V | 7-10 years | $162,424 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Packaging Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Planning | 2.57% |
| SOP | 1.31% |
| Packaging Engineering | 0.83% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Supply Chain
|
$83,054 |
7%
|
|
Analysis
|
$83,054 |
7%
|
|
Project Management
|
$83,054 |
7%
|
|
Communication Skills
|
$83,054 |
7%
|
|
Leadership
|
$83,054 |
7%
|
|
Collaboration
|
$82,278 |
6%
|
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Packaging Engineer Is enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Packaging Engineer I with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $70,495 and $74,550).
Packaging Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 5.9% |
| High School | 5.9% |
| Associates | 7.6% |
| Bachelors | 70.6% |
| Masters | 12.6% |
| Doctorate | 3.4% |
Understanding how a Packaging Engineer I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Last Updated on May 18, 2021Salaries for a Packaging Engineer I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $75,326 in 2023 to around $74,320 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Packaging Engineer I salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
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|
| 2023 | $75,326 |
| 2024 | $74,995 |
| 2025 | $74,320 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
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|
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Designs product packaging to ensure product integrity and appeal under varying shipping and display conditions. Tests, analyzes, and selects materials for packaging based on durability and cost effectiveness. Helps ensure packaging complies with all regulations. May require a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Planning: An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
SOP: SOP is A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
Packaging Engineering: Packaging engineering, also package engineering, packaging technology and packaging science, is a broad topic ranging from design conceptualization to product placement. All steps along the manufacturing process, and more, must be taken into account in the design of the package for any given product. Package engineering is an interdisciplinary field integrating science, engineering, technology and management to protect and identify products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. It encompasses the process of design, evaluation, and production of packages. It is a system integral to the value chain that impacts product quality, user satisfaction, distribution efficiencies, and safety. includes industry-specific aspects of industrial engineering, marketing, materials science, industrial design and logistics. Packaging engineers must interact with research and development, manufacturing, marketing, graphic design, regulatory, purchasing, planning and so on. The package must sell and protect the product, while maintaining an efficient, cost-effective process cycle.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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