What is the best state to be a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, North Dakota is the best state for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders: a BLS median of $47,390 is worth $53,272 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.0), an index of 124.0 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. New Hampshire has the highest headline BLS median for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders at $49,450, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #12 of 50 on real pay (index 110.5). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

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Best States to Be a Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders salary goes furthest in North Dakota — a $47,390 BLS median worth $53,272 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 124.0).

Which US states are best for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders after cost of living and tax?

For a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks North Dakota #1: a $47,390 BLS median becomes $53,272 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 124.0). Hawaii ranks last ($32,248, index 75.1). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

North Dakota ranks #1 of 50 states for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders. Index 100 = the average state; 124.0 means pay goes 24.0% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

124.0

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	North Dakota	$47,390	—	89.0	$53,272	124.0
2	Wyoming	$48,890	—	92.7	$52,745	122.8
3	Missouri	$48,070	$1,378	90.8	$51,413	119.7
4	West Virginia	$46,410	$1,361	89.5	$50,335	117.2
5	Iowa	$45,660	$1,695	87.8	$50,096	116.6
6	Nebraska	$46,220	$1,310	90.1	$49,843	116.0
7	South Dakota	$43,860	—	88.6	$49,511	115.3
8	Kentucky	$45,450	$1,687	90.2	$48,540	113.0
9	Kansas	$44,890	$1,705	90.1	$47,947	111.6
10	Maine	$47,970	$1,623	97.0	$47,756	111.2
11	Wisconsin	$46,220	$1,297	94.1	$47,742	111.1
12	New Hampshire	$49,450	—	104.2	$47,473	110.5
13	Idaho	$46,720	$1,540	95.5	$47,312	110.1
14	Tennessee	$43,190	—	91.9	$47,012	109.4
15	Vermont	$46,670	$1,145	98.0	$46,474	108.2
16	Indiana	$44,600	$1,308	93.3	$46,386	108.0
17	Ohio	$43,310	$409	92.8	$46,243	107.7
18	Montana	$44,350	$1,478	94.6	$45,297	105.5
19	Pennsylvania	$44,480	$1,366	97.6	$44,187	102.9
20	Colorado	$46,010	$1,364	103.1	$43,323	100.9
21	Oklahoma	$39,310	$1,330	87.8	$43,237	100.7
22	Georgia	$42,920	$1,667	96.3	$42,842	99.7
23	Virginia	$44,950	$1,785	101.1	$42,694	99.4
24	Louisiana	$38,370	$776	88.2	$42,620	99.2
25	Mississippi	$37,720	$854	87.0	$42,397	98.7
26	North Carolina	$41,150	$1,207	94.3	$42,346	98.6
27	Utah	$43,780	$1,992	98.9	$42,268	98.4
28	Arkansas	$37,740	$1,263	86.9	$41,958	97.7
29	South Carolina	$40,010	$873	93.7	$41,746	97.2
30	Michigan	$41,690	$1,525	96.2	$41,744	97.2
31	Illinois	$43,150	$1,995	100.0	$41,172	95.9
32	Alabama	$37,820	$1,626	88.8	$40,748	94.9
33	Oregon	$45,180	$3,149	103.4	$40,664	94.7
34	Texas	$38,950	—	97.1	$40,131	93.4
35	Minnesota	$40,960	$1,392	98.6	$40,122	93.4
36	Maryland	$43,670	$1,742	105.0	$39,947	93.0
37	Arizona	$40,560	$539	100.7	$39,752	92.5
38	California	$44,020	$773	110.7	$39,060	90.9
39	Washington	$41,700	—	107.0	$38,967	90.7
40	New Mexico	$35,640	$613	92.2	$37,986	88.4
41	Alaska	$38,730	—	102.4	$37,837	88.1
42	Nevada	$37,440	—	100.0	$37,448	87.2
43	Connecticut	$39,460	$851	103.6	$37,264	86.8
44	Delaware	$38,500	$1,460	99.8	$37,111	86.4
45	Rhode Island	$38,330	$837	102.3	$36,657	85.3
46	Massachusetts	$40,360	$1,798	105.8	$36,463	84.9
47	New Jersey	$40,280	$692	108.8	$36,384	84.7
48	Florida	$37,170	—	103.4	$35,943	83.7
49	New York	$39,330	$1,558	107.9	$35,000	81.5
50	Hawaii	$36,810	$1,353	110.0	$32,248	75.1

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In North Dakota, a $47,390 salary is worth about $51,940 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $1,185 (≈ top marginal 2.50% (upper bound)) · take-home $46,205 · BEA cost of living 89.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $53,496, a $1,556 gain over North Dakota.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$53,496	88.6
2	Arkansas	$52,385	86.9
3	Louisiana	$52,114	88.2
4	Mississippi	$52,103	87.0
5	Iowa	$51,946	87.8
6	North Dakota	$51,940	89.0
7	Tennessee	$51,584	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$51,386	87.8
9	Wyoming	$51,127	92.7
10	Alabama	$50,686	88.8
11	Kentucky	$50,460	90.2
12	West Virginia	$50,399	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, North Dakota is the best state for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders: a BLS median of $47,390 is worth $53,272 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.0), an index of 124.0 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. New Hampshire has the highest headline BLS median for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders at $49,450, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #12 of 50 on real pay (index 110.5). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders salary go least far?: Hawaii ranks last of 50 states for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders: a $36,810 BLS median is worth only $32,248 after tax and cost of living (index 75.1). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.