Packers and Product Assemblers

How to become a Packer

Official title: Packer (General)

Packs, wraps, fills, labels and seals containers by hand or machine for a wide variety of products such as food, beverages, paints, oils and lotions.

Main tasks

Operates machinery and equipment to fill containers, bottles or boxes with products
Inspects goods to ensure they are free of defects and meet quality standards
Weighs and measures goods to ensure they are packaged correctly
Seals the containers, bottles or boxes securely using appropriate methods to safeguard the contents during storage or transit
Affixes labels to packages, indicating contents, destination, weight and other relevant information
Organises and arranges packaged goods for storage or shipment

Typical full-time pay: $71,032 a year
About 59,600 people work in this job group now, and about 61,200 are projected by 2035. (+2.6%)
AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Median full-time pay is $71,032 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 59,600 to about 61,200 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Usually not. Only 13% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04