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Boston Career Explorer

Transportation and Material Moving

Packers and Packagers, Hand

Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.

Also called: Bagger, Crater, Mini Shifter, Pack Out Operator, Packager, Packaging Specialist

Median pay in Greater Boston
$33,740
$16.22/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
11,250
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−6.9%
2,270 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
No formal educational credential
plus Short-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$31,200$31,270$33,740$36,990$43,420

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Examine and inspect containers, materials, or products to ensure that product quality and packing specifications are met.
  • Measure, weigh, and count products and materials.
  • Record product, packaging, and order information on specified forms and records.
  • Seal containers or materials, using glues, fasteners, nails, and hand tools.
  • Assemble, line, and pad cartons, crates, and containers, using hand tools.
  • Obtain, move, and sort products, materials, containers, and orders, using hand tools.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure13 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 4
  • Language-model AIOE 11
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 23

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is low, and AI tools are not much used in it today. Software may help with counting, recording order details, and spotting package problems. Handling, sealing, and assembling cartons and containers by hand are physical tasks AI tools do not do. Jobs are expected to decline in Massachusetts.

Likely to change

  • Counting and recording order information
  • Flagging product or packaging defects

Still relies on people

  • Packing and sealing items by hand
  • Assembling and padding cartons and crates

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Checking product quality and keeping production records carry over. This machine job pays more and is expected to grow.

    Pay difference
    +$10,580 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +5.2%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

    Your hand-handling and material skills carry over. This job moves freight and stock, and it pays more with expected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$11,860 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +7.3%
    To get started
    No formal educational credential

  • Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators

    Handling and stacking materials carries over. This job uses forklifts, pays more, and has strong expected growth with short training.

    Pay difference
    +$14,060 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +21.7%
    To get started
    No formal educational credential

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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