Jobs Similar to Packers and Packagers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to packers and packagers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers, Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers and Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping.
Packers and Packagers: $36,280 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
78% similar · $48,570 (+34%) · High school
- 2Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
77% similar · $34,890 (−4%) · High school
- 3Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping
76% similar · $46,380 (+28%) · High school
- 4Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
75% similar · $43,220 (+19%) · High school
- 5Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
75% similar · $35,730 (−2%) · High school
- 6Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
75% similar · $58,470 (+61%) · High school
- 7Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
75% similar · $53,750 (+48%) · High school
- 8Bakers
75% similar · $37,160 (+2%) · High school
- 9Sewing Machine Operators
74% similar · $36,670 (+1%) · High school
- 10Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
74% similar · $40,240 (+11%) · High school · Same group
- 11Machine Feeders and Offbearers
74% similar · $41,220 (+14%) · High school · Same group
- 12Food Batchmakers
74% similar · $42,290 (+17%) · High school
- 13Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
74% similar · $46,880 (+29%) · High school
- 14Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
73% similar · $50,270 (+39%) · High school
- 15Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
73% similar · $48,220 (+33%) · High school
- 16Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
73% similar · $43,530 (+20%) · High school
- 17Slaughterers and Meat Packers
73% similar · $40,130 (+11%) · High school
- 18Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
73% similar · $44,810 (+24%) · High school
- 19Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
73% similar · $41,590 (+15%) · High school
- 20Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
73% similar · $46,170 (+27%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than packers and packagers.
- Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators75% similar · $58,470 (+61%)
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers75% similar · $53,750 (+48%)
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders73% similar · $50,270 (+39%)
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers78% similar · $48,570 (+34%)
- Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers73% similar · $48,220 (+33%)
- Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators74% similar · $46,880 (+29%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for packers and packagers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where packers and packagers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products (85)
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers (84)
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers (82)
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders (82)
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers (80)
- Bakers (79)
- Helpers--Production Workers (79)
- Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping (79)
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand (76)
- Food Batchmakers (75)
Questions about jobs like packers and packagers
What jobs are most similar to packers and packagers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers (78% similar), Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers (77% similar), Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping (76% similar), Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders (75% similar) and Graders and Sorters (75% similar).
Which jobs like packers and packagers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators ($58,470, +61%; usually a high school diploma), Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers ($53,750, +48%; usually a high school diploma) and Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ($50,270, +39%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with packers and packagers ($36,280). Without more preparation than packers and packagers usually need: Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.