0
Packaging is a career option with diverse applications, because virtually every product for industry, retail, supply chain management, mailing and even gift-giving relies on packaging. The focus of packaging as a career is found in the combination of skills used to prepare products for distribution and merchandising. It is a profession that is more complex than it looks, for it requires knowledge of packaging materials, an eye for detail and in many instances, a lot of creativity.
Packaging as an occupation exists on three tiers. First, there’s packaging design and development. This is the domain of the packaging artist, an individual trained in art, graphics, design, printing and marketing of products through packaging that is attractive to the eye and encourages a purchase. These positions require a bachelor of fine arts degree, with emphasis on marketing, graphics and computer-related skills. Starting salaries are in the $10-15 per hour range and escalate quickly with experience. Designing and developing packaging can be a primary task, or an addition to advertising and print-related graphic art projects.
The second tier of packaging relates to the manufacturing of the package itself. Careers in the packaging industries primarily focus on cardboard box packaging, plastic blow molded packaging and a variety of bag packaging products. Each involves some degree of printing and delivering the finished packages to manufacturers that will fill them with products. These jobs fall under manufacturing, requiring a period of training through a union which provides skills, safety and materials education. Training salaries for package manufacturing are not uncommon in the $12-$15 per hour range.
The third tier requires the least education, yet represents the majority of jobs in the packaging industry. Choosing products from inventory to fulfill purchase orders, readying multiple boxes of product on pallets to ready for shipment, and preparing packages for mailing to fulfill catalogue sales orders are all within the jobs available in this third tier. An eye for detail, self-discipline and a good work ethic are required for the majority of packaging positions. Pay starts at minimum wage, but may entail financial bonuses for high productivity or offer opportunities for overtime pay.
