Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders build operations monitoring, operation and control and coordination skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Machine Feeders and Offbearers (90%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Machine Feeders and Offbearers | 90% | $41,220 | −5% | None |
| 2 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 89% | $46,350 | +7% | None |
| 3 | Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | 85% | $38,180 | −12% | None |
| 4 | Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 83% | $50,140 | +16% | None |
| 5 | Packers and Packagers, Hand | 82% | $36,280 | −16% | None |
| 6 | Print Binding and Finishing Workers | 81% | $42,290 | −2% | None |
| 7 | Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | 81% | $54,430 | +26% | None |
| 8 | Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 81% | $47,720 | +10% | None |
| 9 | Recycling and Reclamation Workers | 80% | $40,240Pay for the broader BLS group “Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand” | Not compared | None |
| 10 | Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 80% | $39,530 | −9% | None |
Compared with Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders, median $43,220. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as packaging and filling machine operators and tenders (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
90% skill match · $41,220 · −5% pay
Management of Material Resources · Management of Financial Resources · Operations Analysis
89% skill match · $46,350 · +7% pay
Operations Analysis · Operation and Control · Operations Monitoring
85% skill match · $38,180 · −12% pay
Installation · Operations Analysis · Management of Material Resources
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Machine Feeders and Offbearers (90% skill match, median $41,220), Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (89% skill match, median $46,350) and Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders (85% skill match, median $38,180), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 17 pay more than packaging and filling machine operators and tenders at the median. The biggest increases: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (+124%, $96,710), Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators (+79%, $77,320) and Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers (+43%, $61,770).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.