As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Packaging R&D Engineer II in the United States is $88,473 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.
However, a Packaging R&D Engineer II's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Packaging R&D Engineer II Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $93,713 | $7,809 | $1,802 | $45 |
| Average | $88,473 | $7,373 | $1,701 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $80,893 | $6,741 | $1,556 | $39 |
A Packaging R&D Engineer II'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 a Packaging R&D Engineer II'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 | $77,582 |
| Packaging R&D Engineer II | 2-4 years | $88,459 |
| Packaging Development Engineer III | 4-7 years | $105,092 |
| Packaging Development Engineer IV | 7+ years | $129,544 |
| Lead Packaging Engineer | 7-10 years | $162,480 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Project Management | 2.34% |
| Product Development | 1.3% |
| Lean | 0.78% |
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 a Packaging R&D Engineer II's salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Business Acumen | $108,822 | |
| Verification and Validation | $97,320 | |
| Mechanical Engineering | $94,666 |
Packaging R&D Engineer II salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $98,771. While startup companies pay approximate $83,634.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $83,634 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $88,432 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $95,371 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $98,771 |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Packaging R&D Engineer IIs 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 a Packaging R&D Engineer II with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $84,567 and $88,397).
| Typical Education for Packaging R&D Engineer II | |
|---|---|
| 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 a Packaging R&D Engineer II'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $93,713 | $7,809 | $1,802 | $45 |
| Average | $88,473 | $7,373 | $1,701 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $80,893 | $6,741 | $1,556 | $39 |
Next Role
Advancement
For a Packaging R&D Engineer II, 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 a Packaging R&D Engineer II 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 Packaging R&D Engineer II 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 Packaging R&D Engineer II roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.
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Loosely speaking, while a research scientist focuses on generating original ideas, a Packaging R&D Engineer applies engineering skills to design and conduct experiments based on those ideas. This role typically requires a strong technical background, and salaries range from $82,293 to $97,123, with a midpoint of $88,933.
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