# Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

> Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 51-9111.00
- **Summary:** Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.

## Aliases

- Bundler
- Filler Operator
- Machine Operator
- Packaging Operator
- Closing Machine Operator
- Computer Numerical Control Machine Operator (CNC Machine Operator)
- Packing Attendant
- Packing Machine Operator
- Ampoule Filler
- Ampoule Sealer
- Apple Press Operator
- Assembly Line Worker

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Attach identification labels to finished packaged items, or cut stencils and stencil information on containers, such as lot numbers or shipping destinations. | Core | 4.A.1.b.1.a |
| Sort, grade, weigh, and inspect products, verifying and adjusting product weight or measurement to meet specifications. | Core | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Stop or reset machines when malfunctions occur, clear machine jams, and report malfunctions to a supervisor. | Core | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Observe machine operations to ensure quality and conformity of filled or packaged products to standards. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Remove finished packaged items from machine and separate rejected items. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.an |
| Monitor the production line, watching for problems such as pile-ups, jams, or glue that isn't sticking properly. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Inspect and remove defective products and packaging material. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.an |
| Tend or operate machine that packages product. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.ap |
| Start machine by engaging controls. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.ap |
| Clean, oil, and make minor adjustments or repairs to machinery and equipment, such as opening valves or setting guides. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Regulate machine flow, speed, or temperature. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Adjust machine components and machine tension and pressure according to size or processing angle of product. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.ap |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Package products for storage or shipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.ap |
| Remove products or workpieces from production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.an |
| Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Clear equipment jams. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs. | 4.A.4.a.2.g |
| Sew clothing or other articles. | 4.A.3.a.2.e |
| Sort materials or products for processing, storing, shipping, or grading. | 4.A.2.a.2.b |
| Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products. | 4.A.4.c.3.a |
| Clean materials to prepare them for production. | 4.A.3.a.1.h |
| Weigh finished products. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Clean production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Repair production equipment or tools. | 4.A.3.b.4.c |
| Lubricate production equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Stack finished items for further processing or shipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Count finished products or workpieces. | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Record operational or production data. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Feed materials or products into or through equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.f |
| Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information. | 4.A.1.b.1.a |
| Prepare materials for processing. | 4.A.3.a.2.m |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 3.76 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 3.53 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.25 |
| Public Safety and Security | knowledge | 3.23 |
| Education and Training | knowledge | 3.2 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.19 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.12 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3.12 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.12 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3.12 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.12 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.12 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.12 |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 3.06 |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 3.06 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3 |
| Visualization | ability | 3 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 3 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 3 |
| Rate Control | ability | 3 |
| Reaction Time | ability | 3 |
| Trunk Strength | ability | 3 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 2.88 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 2.88 |
| Social Perceptiveness | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Equipment Maintenance | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 2.88 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 2.88 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 2.88 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Email Software | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Presentation Software | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | yes | no |
| Email software | Electronic mail software | no | no |
| Label printing software | Label making software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 4.6 |
| Spend Time Standing | 4.57 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.55 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.52 |
| Time Pressure | 4.44 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.41 |
| Contact With Others | 4.4 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 4.38 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.24 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.18 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 4.15 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.13 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 4.11 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 4.09 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.04 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.01 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.97 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.92 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 3.91 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 3.87 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.77 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.69 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.59 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.59 |
| Level of Competition | 3.42 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.38 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.37 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 3.29 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 3.12 |
| In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment | 2.81 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 2.75 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 2.63 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 2.56 |
| Degree of Automation | 2.56 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.51 |
| Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance | 2.29 |
| Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling | 2.17 |
| Exposed to High Places | 2.1 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 2.05 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 2.03 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 79.69 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.22 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 0.82 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.63 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 4.91 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 3.92 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 2.93 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 2.14 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 2.14 |
| Dependability | work_style | 2.11 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 1.98 |
| Enterprising | career_interest_type | 1.84 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 1.5 |
| Agriculture | specific_interest_area | 1.42 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 1.37 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 1.36 |
| Construction/Woodwork | specific_interest_area | 1.25 |
| Culinary Art | specific_interest_area | 1.23 |
| Accounting | specific_interest_area | 1.2 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 53-7064.00 | role-53-7064-00 | Packers and Packagers, Hand | Primary-Short |
| 53-7063.00 | role-53-7063-00 | Machine Feeders and Offbearers | Primary-Short |
| 51-9191.00 | role-51-9191-00 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-9041.00 | role-51-9041-00 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-9196.00 | role-51-9196-00 | Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-9032.00 | role-51-9032-00 | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-9012.00 | role-51-9012-00 | Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-6091.00 | role-51-6091-00 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | Primary-Long |
| 51-9021.00 | role-51-9021-00 | Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-9023.00 | role-51-9023-00 | Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-9195.00 | role-51-9195-00 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | Supplemental |
| 51-9051.00 | role-51-9051-00 | Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Supply Chain & Transportation | supply-chain-transportation |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs


## Market

- **Median Wage:** 40900
- **Mean Wage:** 43630
- **Pct10Wage:** 31890
- **Pct25Wage:** 36250
- **Pct75Wage:** 48440
- **Pct90Wage:** 58910
- **Employment:** 383860
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 302120 | 43010 | 9.51 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 37940 | 36360 | 1.69 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 24970 | 40420 | 1.66 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 24470 | 36270 | 3.71 |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 5710 | 40830 | 0.31 |
| 11 | 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | Sector | 5560 | 37770 | 5.28 |
| 44-45 | 44-45 | Retail Trade | Sector | 2390 | 37710 | 0.06 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 1610 | 44650 | 0.06 |
| 62 | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Sector | 1130 | 32220 | 0.02 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 810 | 41680 | 0.12 |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector | 480 | 51190 | 0.34 |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector | 310 | 33990 | 0.03 |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 302120 | 9.51 |
| 11 | 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | Sector | 5560 | 5.28 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 24470 | 3.71 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 37940 | 1.69 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 24970 | 1.66 |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector | 480 | 0.34 |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 5710 | 0.31 |
| 332710 | 332710 | Machine Shops | National industry | 140 | 0.22 |
- **Count:** 19

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.98 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.978608 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -0.903661 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -1.010728 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 8
- **Percentile:** 4
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 18 | felten_aioe |
| 3 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 3 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.978608 | 18 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0 | 3 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.020053129326026643 | 3 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.98
- **Percentile:** 97
- **Band:** High
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0
- **Beta:** 0
- **Gamma:** 0

### Usage Tasks


### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 4.5
- **Growth Percentile:** 70
- **Direction:** About average
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 45.3
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 89
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 381.2
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 398.2

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 20
- **Skills:** 37
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 8
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 3749e0673c5a11eb