Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Columbia, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbia, SC

Median annual salary $38,280 -6.4% vs national
Median hourly $18.40
10th percentile $32,740
90th percentile $55,920
Employed locally 1,510
National median $40,900

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

Type a city below to see how Columbia, SC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
in
Columbia, SC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,740
    25th
    $36,070
    50th (median)
    $38,280
    75th
    $45,750
    90th
    $55,920

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 58% Median Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 42% 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
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,140
    Tuscaloosa, AL $46,160
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $45,340
    South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $44,920
    Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $44,710
    Wisconsin $44,170

    Related occupations in Columbia, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $39,150
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $46,710
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $74,920
    Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers $36,130
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $48,430
    Production Workers, All Other $38,270

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in Columbia, SC is $18.40, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.11 or more per hour.

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

    The median Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Columbia, SC is 6.4% below 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 Columbia?

    Entry-level Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $32,740 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,070.