Salaries › Packaging Machine Operator › California
Packaging Machine Operator Salary in California (2026)
$21.16 per hour · take-home ≈ $36,647/year ($3,054/month) for a single filer
Packaging Machine Operator pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $35,750 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $37,690 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $44,020 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $49,300 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $61,780 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 43,430 Packaging Machine Operator jobs in California (occupation code 51-9111, “Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Packaging Machine Operator salary of $44,020 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $36,647 — an effective tax rate of 16.7%.
| Gross (median) | $44,020 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,102 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,368 |
| California state income tax | −$903 |
| Take-home (annual) | $36,647 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,054 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Packaging Machine Operator make in California?
- The median Packaging Machine Operator salary in California is $44,020 per year ($21.16 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $37,690 and $49,300.
- What is the take-home pay for a Packaging Machine Operator in California?
- On the median salary of $44,020, a single filer in California takes home about $36,647 per year ($3,054 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.7%.
- How many Packaging Machine Operator jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 43,430 Packaging Machine Operator jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Packaging Machine Operators
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Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.