Salaries › Packaging Machine Operator › Tennessee
Packaging Machine Operator Salary in Tennessee (2026)
$20.77 per hour · take-home ≈ $36,883/year ($3,074/month) for a single filer
Packaging Machine Operator pay range in Tennessee
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $33,050 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $36,000 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $43,190 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $49,990 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $62,810 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 7,400 Packaging Machine Operator jobs in Tennessee (occupation code 51-9111, “Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders”).
Gross vs. take-home in Tennessee
A median Packaging Machine Operator salary of $43,190 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in Tennessee), a single filer keeps about $36,883 — an effective tax rate of 14.6%.
| Gross (median) | $43,190 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,003 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,304 |
| Tennessee state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $36,883 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,074 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Tennessee paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Packaging Machine Operator make in Tennessee?
- The median Packaging Machine Operator salary in Tennessee is $43,190 per year ($20.77 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $36,000 and $49,990.
- What is the take-home pay for a Packaging Machine Operator in Tennessee?
- On the median salary of $43,190, a single filer in Tennessee takes home about $36,883 per year ($3,074 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 14.6%.
- How many Packaging Machine Operator jobs are there in Tennessee?
- BLS counts 7,400 Packaging Machine Operator jobs in Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee.