Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Lead Packaging Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Lead Packaging Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Lead Packaging Engineer in the United States is $162,480 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $78.

However, an Lead Packaging Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $188,386
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $150,080 to $176,040
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $138,790
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Lead Packaging Engineer Salaries

An Lead 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.

How Experience Level Affects Lead Packaging Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Lead 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:

  • Packaging Development Engineer III (4-7 years): $105,093
  • Packaging Development Engineer IV (7+ years): $129,537
  • Lead Packaging Engineer (7-10 years): $162,475
  • Packaging R&D Engineering Manager (10+ years): $138,676
  • Packaging Development Engineering Senior Manager (10+ years): $176,576
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Packaging Development Engineer III4-7 years$105,093
Packaging Development Engineer IV7+ years$129,537
Lead Packaging Engineer7-10 years$162,475
Packaging R&D Engineering Manager10+ years$138,676
Packaging Development Engineering Senior Manager10+ years$176,576
View as Graph

How Do Lead Packaging Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Lead Packaging Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $179,900.
  • California: $179,210.
  • Massachusetts: $176,830.

Top Paying Cities for Lead Packaging Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $204,930
  • San Francisco: $202,690
  • Oakland: $198,420

What Skills Can Increase an Lead Packaging Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 2.34% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Product Development (Mentioned in 1.3% Job Postings): Overseeing the creation of new products or improvement of the performance, cost, or quality of existing products to achieve business goals.
  • Lean (Mentioned in 0.78% Job Postings): Lean manufacturing, or lean production, is a system of techniques and activities for running a manufacturing or service operation.
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 2.34%
Product Development 1.3%
Lean 0.78%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Lead Packaging Engineer's salary.

  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 40%.
  • Research and Development: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Verbal Communication $227,472
40%
Research and Development $193,351
19%
Coordination $185,227
14%
Get Latest Data

Lead Packaging Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Lead Packaging Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $181,578. While startup companies pay approximate $153,597.

Lead Packaging Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $153,597
Growth Stage 51~500 $162,444
Established 501~5000 $175,337
Enterprise 5000+ $181,578

Lead Packaging Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lead Packaging Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 10% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 5% above the average. In contrast, Lead Packaging Engineer positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead Packaging Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Lead Packaging Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$170,604$82.05%
Biotechnology$170,604$82.05%
Business Services$170,604$82.05%
Chemicals$170,604$82.05%
Construction$170,604$82.05%

How Education impacts an Lead Packaging Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lead Packaging Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Lead Packaging Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $159,460 and $169,676).

Lead Packaging Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lead Packaging Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.8%
High School 4.5%
Associates 4.5%
Bachelors 52.3%
Masters 27.3%
Doctorate 9.1%
View as Graph

Lead Packaging Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Lead 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 September 01, 2026
$150,080
Average $162,480/year
$176,040
$12,507
Average $13,540/month
$14,670
$2,886
Average $3,125/week
$3,385
$72
Average $78/hour
$85
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $176,040 $14,670 $3,385 $85
Average $162,480 $13,540 $3,125 $78
25th Percentile $150,080 $12,507 $2,886 $72

Lead Packaging Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Lead Packaging Engineer

Next Role

Advancement

For an Lead Packaging Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Packaging R&D Engineering Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $138,700 - a projected growth of -15% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Lead Packaging Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Lead Packaging Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Lead Packaging Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Lead Packaging Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Lead Packaging Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Lead Packaging Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Lead Packaging Engineer?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Lead Packaging Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 5% above the market median.

2. How much does a lead data engineer at Starbucks make?

The estimated total pay range for a Lead Packaging Engineer is $150,180 to $187,350 per year, which includes base salary and additional compensation. The mid-salary for this position is approximately $169,080.

3. What is a senior packaging engineer?

A Senior Packaging Engineer oversees products made both in-house and by third-party packagers. This role involves identifying and proposing advanced packaging technologies to meet customer needs. The salary for this position ranges from $150,180 to $187,350, with a midpoint of $169,080, reflecting the expertise and responsibilities involved.

4. How much do packaging engineers make in the US?

Packaging engineers in the US earn between $150,180 and $187,350 annually, with a median salary of $169,080. This reflects a competitive salary range, highlighting the value of expertise in packaging engineering within the industry.

5. What is a good salary for an engineer in USA?

A good salary for a Lead Packaging Engineer in the USA ranges from a minimum of $150,180 to a maximum of $187,350, with a median salary of $169,080. This reflects the specialized skills and experience required for this role, positioning it above the average engineering salaries in the industry.

6. How much do engineering leads make in the US?

The estimated total pay for a Lead Packaging Engineer in the US ranges from $150,180 to $187,350 per year, with a mid-salary of $169,080. These figures reflect the salary range based on industry data and provide a clear picture of compensation for this role.

7. Do you need a degree to be a packaging engineer?

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 a Lead Packaging Engineer ranges from $150,180 to $187,350, with a median salary of $169,080.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job