Mid-Level

Packaging Clerk

In a manufacturing, fulfillment, or distribution operation, you handle the clerical work behind packaging — paperwork for outgoing shipments, inventory documentation, packaging-supply orders, and the office-side support for packaging operations.

Career Level
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Mid
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Work Personality
C
R
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A
I
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Packaging Clerks
Employment concentration · ~186 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Packaging Clerk

Most days run between the packaging line, the office, and the systems that track outgoing volume — processing shipping documentation, ordering packaging supplies, supporting the packaging team on paperwork-heavy decisions, fielding warehouse and customer-service questions about shipments. Documentation accuracy and supply availability anchor the operating measures.

The harder part is often the cross-functional dependency stack — packaging clerks coordinate with warehouse, customer service, procurement, and shipping carriers, and the role's rhythm shifts with what each function needs. Variance across employers shapes the role: fulfillment operations run packaging clerks within structured operational teams; manufacturing operations run packaging clerks adjacent to shipping; distribution operations run packaging clerks within broader warehouse-administration work.

It fits people organized with operational paperwork, comfortable in plant or warehouse environments, and reliable through repetitive documentation work. APICS and CSCP credentials anchor advancement. The trade-off is the modest pay relative to operational responsibility — packaging clerk work supports significant outbound shipment value, and the role's influence depends on the documentation discipline behind packaging operations.

SupportLower
RelationshipsLower
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
IndependenceLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Packaging Clerks (SOC 43-9051.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Packaging Clerk career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$29K–$52K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
63K
U.S. Employment
-6.6%
10yr Growth
7K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$64K$61K$59K$56K$53K201920202021202220232024$53K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

MonitoringReading ComprehensionTime ManagementSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningOperation and ControlCoordinationOperations MonitoringJudgment and Decision Making
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
43-9051.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.