Packers and Packagers, Hand vs Helpers--Production Workers
Side-by-side · O*NET · BLS · AI-exposure research · Anthropic Economic Index
A factual, source-backed comparison of Packers and Packagers, Hand and Helpers--Production Workers on the dimensions both occupations carry. Every figure is a position within an independent published dataset — not a verdict on which job is better, safer, or more “future-proof.”
At a glance
| Dimension | Packers and Packagers, Hand | Helpers--Production Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $35,580 | $38,220 |
| Employment | 601,440 | 167,490 |
| Employment outlook (2024–34) · BLS projection | Declining (-5.4%) | Declining (-8.9%) |
| Annual openings · BLS projection | 74,000 | 23,600 |
| Typical education · O*NET | Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. | Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. |
| AI exposure · published exposure studies | Low · 18th pct | Low · 3rd pct |
| Global GenAI gradient · ILO ISCO-08 · via crosswalk | 33rd pct · 20% of tasks | 8th pct · 12% of tasks |
| Observed AI use · Anthropic Economic Index | — | Automation-leaning (64.0%) |
| Mostly remote-capable · Dingel–Neiman | No | No |
Pay and employment are BLS OEWS estimates; outlook and openings are BLS 2024–2034 projections; AI exposure and observed-use figures come from separate research and reflect exposure and usage, not predictions that either job will disappear. Compare like with like.
Skills
Shared: Production and Processing, Near Vision, Problem Sensitivity, Trunk Strength, Monitoring, Oral Comprehension, Manual Dexterity, Multilimb Coordination, Static Strength, Speech Recognition, English Language, Oral Expression, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Information Ordering, Selective Attention, Arm-Hand Steadiness, Finger Dexterity, Extent Flexibility, Mathematics, Mechanical, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Coordination, Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, Stamina, Depth Perception, Category Flexibility, Perceptual Speed, Control Precision.
Specific to Packers and Packagers, Hand
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
- Public Safety and Security
- Speech Clarity
- Computers and Electronics
- Dynamic Strength
- Chemistry
- Transportation
Specific to Helpers--Production Workers
- Written Comprehension
- Far Vision
- Operations Monitoring
- Visualization
- Reaction Time
- Auditory Attention
- Social Perceptiveness
- Operation and Control
Knowledge, skills & abilities O*NET rates as important for each occupation. “Shared” are common to both; the columns list what is distinctive to each (top by the order O*NET surfaces).
Tools & technology
Shared: Computer aided design CAD software , Spreadsheet software , Office suite software , Word processing software , Enterprise resource planning ERP software .
Specific to Packers and Packagers, Hand
Full profiles
This page is a summary. See the complete source-backed profile for Packers and Packagers, Hand or Helpers--Production Workers — tasks, the full skill graph, tools, work context, preparation, wages by percentile, industries, AI exposure and the AI work map.
More comparisons
Related occupations you can place side by side on the same sourced scale.
- Packers and Packagers, Hand vs Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
- Packers and Packagers, Hand vs Machine Feeders and Offbearers
- Packers and Packagers, Hand vs Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
- Packers and Packagers, Hand vs Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
- Packers and Packagers, Hand vs Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Packers and Packagers, Hand vs Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
- Packers and Packagers, Hand vs Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Packers and Packagers, Hand vs Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation academic
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Singulariki. "Packers and Packagers, Hand vs Helpers--Production Workers." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/compare/packers-and-packagers-hand-vs-helpers-production-workers
Singulariki. (2026). Packers and Packagers, Hand vs Helpers--Production Workers. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/compare/packers-and-packagers-hand-vs-helpers-production-workers
@misc{singulariki-packers-and-packagers-hand-vs-helpers-production-workers,
title = {Packers and Packagers, Hand vs Helpers--Production Workers},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/compare/packers-and-packagers-hand-vs-helpers-production-workers}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.