How To Become A Packing Associate: What It Is and Career Path

What is a packing associate and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted Expert

Meegan Feori Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a packing associate. For example, did you know that they make an average of $15.45 an hour? That's $32,140 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 358,300 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a Packing Associate?

Meegan Feori Ph.D.

Associate Professor, San Diego Mesa College

Consider your career in terms of what you are willing to do right now to support yourself and be self-sufficient. During the last recession, I was underemployed, working as a part-time pool lifeguard and making funnel cakes at a local amusement park. Not ideal, but with my funds running low, it was necessary. A third part-time position I had, updating apparel tech packs, did pave my way to a full-time job in the fashion industry. So hustle and be flexible. Also, take time to consider what you can do to create opportunities for yourself. This could include an internship, volunteering, taking a warehouse position at a fashion brand, or completing a class that interests you. The best advice I was ever given was to keep pursuing your goals and accept that what you will be doing in ten years will be better than you ever imagined. The advice came true for me, and I think it will be true for you as well.

ScorePacking AssociateUS Average

Salary

2.5

Avg. Salary $32,140

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

4.2

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 8.02%

Black or African American 12.90%

Hispanic or Latino 20.00%

Unknown 3.69%

White 54.72%

Gender

female 53.06%

male 46.94%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress Level

4.2

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

5.9

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

8.7

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a packing associate

Explore packing associate education requirements

Most common packing associate degrees

High School Diploma

45.6 %

Associate

17.6 %

Bachelor's

15.7 %

Start to develop specific packing associate skills

Skills	Percentages
Pallets	13.25%
Defective Products	12.49%
Safety Regulations	10.00%
Basic Math	9.20%
Pallet Jack	8.75%

Complete relevant packing associate training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New packing associates learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a packing associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real packing associate resumes.

Research packing associate duties and responsibilities

Utilize manual RF equipment to properly scan, organize, troubleshoot and clear merchandise to be pack and ship.
Match labels to map set and BOM.
Pack products while adhering to strict GMP procedures.
Ensure all components are attached as per BOM.

Prepare your packing associate resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your packing associate resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a packing associate resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Packing Associate Resume templates

Build a professional Packing Associate resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Packing Associate resume.

Apply for packing associate jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a packing associate job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do packing associates rate their job?