Packaging and Labeling Services — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the packaging and labeling services industry earns $56,203 per year ($27.02/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$56,203
Avg Annual Pay
64,715
Total Employees
3,019
Total Establishments
21
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Packaging and Labeling Workers Earn?

At $56,203/year (equivalent to $27.02/hour for a full-time worker), packaging and labeling services wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.

Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.

The typical packaging and labeling services business employs 21 people. These are larger operations where staffing represents a major cost center and management complexity.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

43.3%

For the average packaging and labeling services business generating $2.7M/year with 21 employees at $56,203 each, total payroll represents roughly 43.3% of revenue. Labor is a significant cost but leaves room for other expenses and profit.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a packaging and labeling servicesbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $73,064/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 21 employees = ~$1,180,263/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $27.02/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $2.7M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Packaging and Labeling Services revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do packaging and labeling services employees make?
The average packaging and labeling services employee earns $56,203 per year, which is equivalent to $27.02/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the packaging and labeling services industry?
The packaging and labeling services industry employs 64,715 workers across 3,019 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 21 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).