Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Ames, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Ames, IA

Median annual salary $47,630 +16.5% vs national
Median hourly $22.90
10th percentile $35,580
90th percentile $48,210
Employed locally 320
National median $40,900

Compare Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary & buying power

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Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,580
    25th
    $39,420
    50th (median)
    $47,630
    75th
    $47,630
    90th
    $48,210

    Ames economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,090 2023 • Census ACS
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 67% Median Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 33% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $79,300
    Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $77,290
    Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $65,840
    Cedar Rapids, IA $65,570
    Harrisonburg, VA $63,370
    Williamsport, PA $62,930

    Nearby metros — Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Cedar Rapids, IA $65,570
    Williamsport, PA $62,930
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $55,890
    Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $50,110
    Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area $47,670
    West Virginia $47,410

    Related occupations in Ames, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $47,250
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $67,220
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $49,310
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $59,950
    Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $48,150
    Printing Press Operators $42,850

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders make per hour in Ames?

    The median hourly wage for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in Ames, IA is $22.90, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.06 or more per hour.

    Is Ames above or below average for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salaries?

    The median Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Ames, IA is 16.5% above the national median of $40,900. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in Ames?

    Entry-level Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $35,580 per year in Ames, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,420.