As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Lead Packaging Engineer in Colfax, NC is $151,520 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $73.
However, an Lead Packaging Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI-Powered HR
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, skills, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging Development Engineer III | 4-7 years | $98,006 |
| Packaging Development Engineer IV | 7+ years | $120,794 |
| Lead Packaging Engineer | 7-10 years | $151,512 |
| Packaging R&D Engineering Manager | 10+ years | $129,314 |
| Packaging Development Engineering Senior Manager | 10+ years | $164,658 |
What Am I Worth?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Project Management | 2.34% |
| Product Development | 1.3% |
| Lean | 0.78% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Verbal Communication
|
$212,128 |
40%
|
|
Research and Development
|
$180,309 |
19%
|
|
Coordination
|
$172,733 |
14%
|
|
Process Improvement
|
$166,672 |
10%
|
|
Teamwork
|
$163,642 |
8%
|
|
Integrity
|
$162,126 |
7%
|
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 $169,618. While startup companies pay approximate $143,493.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $143,493 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $151,761 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $163,796 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $169,618 |
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.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace & Defense | $159,096 | $76.0 | 5% |
| Biotechnology | $159,096 | $76.0 | 5% |
| Business Services | $159,096 | $76.0 | 5% |
| Chemicals | $159,096 | $76.0 | 5% |
| Construction | $159,096 | $76.0 | 5% |
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 August 01, 2026For 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 $129,400 - a projected growth of -15% over your current level.
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.
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
