As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Intermediate Packaging Engineer in the United States is $88,500 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.
However, an Intermediate Packaging Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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An Intermediate Packaging Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Intermediate Packaging Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Packaging Engineer | 0-2 years | $77,593 |
| Intermediate Packaging Engineer | 2-4 years | $88,471 |
| Packaging Development Engineer III | 4-7 years | $105,095 |
| Packaging Development Engineer IV | 7+ years | $129,521 |
| Lead Packaging Engineer | 7-10 years | $162,464 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Intermediate Packaging Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Project Management | 2.34% |
| Product Development | 1.3% |
| Lean | 0.78% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Business Acumen
|
$108,855 |
23%
|
|
Verification and Validation
|
$97,350 |
10%
|
|
Mechanical Engineering
|
$94,695 |
7%
|
|
Operations Management
|
$94,695 |
7%
|
|
Commitment
|
$94,695 |
7%
|
|
Decision Making
|
$92,925 |
5%
|
Intermediate Packaging Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $98,987. While startup companies pay approximate $83,713.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $83,713 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $88,540 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $95,590 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $98,987 |
For Intermediate Packaging Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Intermediate Packaging Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Intermediate Packaging Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | $101,775 | $49.0 | 15% |
| Financial Services | $101,775 | $49.0 | 15% |
| Software & Networking | $101,775 | $49.0 | 15% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $97,350 | $47.0 | 10% |
| Energy & Utilities | $97,350 | $47.0 | 10% |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Intermediate Packaging Engineers enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Intermediate Packaging Engineer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $84,599 and $88,404).
Intermediate Packaging Engineer Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 1.7% |
| High School | 1.7% |
| Associates | 3.3% |
| Bachelors | 75.0% |
| Masters | 16.7% |
| Doctorate | 1.7% |
Understanding how an Intermediate Packaging Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Last Updated on July 01, 2026For an Intermediate Packaging Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Packaging Development Engineer III role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $105,100 - a projected growth of 19% over your current level.
Salaries for an Intermediate Packaging Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $92,271 in 2023 to around $89,982 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Intermediate Packaging Engineer salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $92,271 |
| 2024 | $90,996 |
| 2025 | $89,982 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Intermediate Packaging Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.
A good salary package in the USA varies by profession and location. For an Intermediate Packaging Engineer, the salary ranges from $82,300 to $97,200, with a midpoint of $89,000. This range reflects the competitive nature of the industry and the importance of packaging engineering in product development.
An Intermediate Packaging Engineer typically earns between $82,300 and $97,200, with a mid-range salary of around $89,000. This range reflects the varying levels of experience and expertise within the role.
The salary for an Intermediate Packaging Engineer ranges from $82,300 to $97,200, with a mid-level salary of $89,000. While various engineering fields offer competitive salaries, the highest-paying roles typically include Petroleum Engineers, Aerospace Engineers, and Nuclear Engineers, often exceeding the salary range of packaging engineering.
A bachelor's degree in packaging science, engineering, logistics, or food science is essential for a packaging engineer role. Recommended high school courses include agricultural education, physics, computer courses, biology, and mathematics. The salary for an Intermediate Packaging Engineer ranges from $82,300 to $97,200, with a median salary of $89,000.
As of now, the salary for an Intermediate Packaging Engineer in the USA ranges from $82,300 to $97,200 annually, with a median salary of $89,000. This reflects a more specialized role compared to general packagers, whose earnings typically range from $14.42 to $17.31 per hour.
Packaging engineering is a promising career with a competitive salary range. The minimum salary is around $82,300, the mid-range is approximately $89,000, and the maximum can reach $97,200. Employment opportunities are expected to grow at an average rate through 2028, as nearly all manufactured products require effective packaging solutions.
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