Packing and Crating — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the packing and crating industry earns $51,870 per year ($24.94/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$51,870
Avg Annual Pay
21,340
Total Employees
1,431
Total Establishments
15
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Packing and Crating Workers Earn?

At $51,870/year (equivalent to $24.94/hour for a full-time worker), packing and crating 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 packing and crating business employs 15 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

38.8%

For the average packing and crating business generating $2.0M/year with 15 employees at $51,870 each, total payroll represents roughly 38.8% 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 packing and cratingbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $67,431/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 15 employees = ~$778,050/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $24.94/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $2.0M/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 Packing and Crating revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do packing and crating employees make?
The average packing and crating employee earns $51,870 per year, which is equivalent to $24.94/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 packing and crating industry?
The packing and crating industry employs 21,340 workers across 1,431 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 15 employees.

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