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Packaging Engineer V Salary in the United States

How much does a Packaging Engineer V make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Packaging Engineer V in the United States is $162,475 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $78.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $188,388
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $150,078 to $176,039
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $138,791

Key Factors That Influence Packaging Engineer V Salaries

A Packaging Engineer V'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 Packaging Engineer V Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Packaging Engineer V'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 Engineer III (4-7 years): $105,093
  • Packaging Engineer IV (7+ years): $129,537
  • Packaging Engineer V (7-10 years): $162,475
  • Packaging Engineering Manager (10+ years): $138,676
  • Packaging Engineering Senior Manager (10+ years): $176,576
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Packaging Engineer III4-7 years$105,093
Packaging Engineer IV7+ years$129,537
Packaging Engineer V7-10 years$162,475
Packaging Engineering Manager10+ years$138,676
Packaging Engineering Senior Manager10+ years$176,576

Top Paying Cities for Packaging Engineer Vs

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: $202,686
  • Oakland: $198,414

What Skills Can Increase a Packaging Engineer V'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%

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 a Packaging Engineer V'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 $227,465
40%
Research and Development $193,345
19%
Coordination $185,222
14%

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

Packaging Engineer V salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $181,573. While startup companies pay approximate $153,592.

Packaging Engineer V Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $153,592
Growth Stage 51~500 $162,439
Established 501~5000 $175,332
Enterprise 5000+ $181,573

Packaging Engineer V Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Packaging Engineer V 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, Packaging Engineer positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Packaging Engineer V as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Packaging Engineer V

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$170,599$82.05%
Biotechnology$170,599$82.05%
Business Services$170,599$82.05%
Chemicals$170,599$82.05%
Construction$170,599$82.05%

How Education impacts a Packaging Engineer V's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Packaging Engineer V enter the field with a Bachelor's 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 Packaging Engineer V with a Bachelor's Degree is between $160,252 and $170,520.

Packaging Engineer V Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Packaging Engineer V
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%

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

Understanding how a Packaging Engineer V'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
$150,078
Average $162,475/year
$176,039
$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 $176,039 $14,670 $3,385 $85
Average $162,475 $13,540 $3,125 $78
25th Percentile $150,078 $12,507 $2,886 $72

Packaging Engineer V Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Packaging Engineer V, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Packaging Engineering Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $138,676 - a projected growth of -15% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Packaging Engineer V

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

Common company salaries for Packaging Engineer V

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

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FAQ about Packaging Engineer V

1. Where can a Packaging Engineer V earn the most?

A Packaging Engineer V's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Packaging Engineer V earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Packaging Engineer V is $204,930.

2. What is the highest pay for Packaging Engineer V?

The highest pay for Packaging Engineer V is $188,388.

3. What is the lowest pay for Packaging Engineer V?

The lowest pay for Packaging Engineer V is $138,791.

4. What are the responsibilities of Packaging Engineer V?

Designs product packaging to ensure product integrity and appeal under varying shipping and display conditions. Tests, analyzes, and selects materials for packaging based on durability and cost effectiveness. Leads the evaluation of the effectiveness of new package designs and ensures compliance with all requirements and regulations. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Packaging Engineer V?

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

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.

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