Packaging Corp of America Employee Salaries 2026: Average Pay & Compensation
Packaging Corp of America employee salaries are estimated at $78,000 average pay in 2025-2026, with $70,000 median pay and $92,000 average total compensation. Compare Packaging Corp of America employee salaries by role, level, bonus, equity, benefits, and Lake Forest, IL location context before evaluating an offer.
Average Salary
$78,000
$6,500/mo
Total Compensation
$92,000
base + bonus + equity
Employees
15K
large company
Rating
3.6
★★★★☆
Direct answer
Packaging Corp of America employee salaries 2025-2026: average pay and compensation
The average salary for Packaging Corp of America employees is estimated at $78,000 in 2025-2026, with median pay of $70,000 and average total compensation of $92,000 when bonus, equity, and incentive pay are included. Entry-level roles start around $42,000, senior roles average $128,000, and the highest listed role benchmark is Software Engineer at $78,000.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Page reviewed May 26, 2026 · Salary data last updated May 19, 2026. Source basis: employee-reported compensation, public filings where applicable, and BLS wage baselines; this is a planning estimate, not a guaranteed offer or internal HR pay band.
Search intent match
Packaging Corp of America average employee salary, compensation and role pay
These are the four compensation questions people usually compare before applying to Packaging Corp of America: average employee salary, average compensation per employee, salary by role, and salary range by level.
| Search question | 2026 answer | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging Corp of America average employee salary 2026 | $78,000 average base salary | Compare against the Manufacturing peer average of $95,606. |
| Packaging Corp of America average compensation per employee | $92,000 average total compensation | Separate base salary from bonus and equity before comparing offers. |
| Packaging Corp of America employee salaries by role | Software Engineer: $78,000 | Product Manager: $74,100 | Operations Manager: $63,180 | Use role-specific benchmarks instead of negotiating from the company average alone. |
| Packaging Corp of America salary range 2025-2026 | $42,000 to $128,000 across listed entry-to-senior levels | Adjust for level, team, location, bonus cycle, and Lake Forest, IL cost context. |
Company-specific pay benchmark
Packaging Corp of America Employee Salaries by Role: 2025-2026 Snapshot
Packaging Corp of America employee salaries average $78,000 base pay and $92,000 average total compensation in this 2025-2026 benchmark. Within Manufacturing, that puts Packaging Corp of America below the peer salary average of $95,606 by -18%. Use this snapshot to compare base salary, bonus potential, senior-level upside, and role-specific pay before accepting or negotiating an offer.
Vs. Manufacturing peers
-18%
peer avg $95,606
Total comp position
-28%
peer avg $128,059
Role pay spread
$18,720
Data Analyst to Software Engineer
Senior premium
+205%
senior vs entry-level salary
| Negotiation area | Packaging Corp of America benchmark | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $78,000 average, $70,000 median | Compare the offer against the Manufacturing peer average and your exact role level. |
| Bonus target | 10% target, about $7,800 on average salary | Ask whether the target is guaranteed, discretionary, prorated, or tied to company performance. |
| Equity or incentives | 15% of estimated total comp is above base salary | Check vesting schedule, refresh grants, strike price or RSU value, and liquidity timing. |
| Location economics | Lake Forest, IL headquarters, $6,500 monthly average pay | Adjust for state taxes, local taxes, rent, commute cost, hybrid policy, and relocation support. |
Packaging Corp of America Salary by Level
Salary progression from entry-level to director positions at Packaging Corp of America.
Entry-level employees at Packaging Corp of America earn around $42,000, while directors can earn $248,000 or more.
Packaging Corp of America Average Pay by Role
| Role | Base Salary | Est. Total Comp |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $78,000 | $85,800 |
| Product Manager | $74,100 | $81,510 |
| Operations Manager | $63,180 | $69,498 |
| Marketing Manager | $61,620 | $67,782 |
| Data Analyst | $59,280 | $65,208 |
Total compensation estimates include base salary and an average 10% bonus. Stock options/equity are offered but vary significantly by role and level.
Packaging Corp of America Benefits & Perks
Packaging Corp of America Salary Calculator
Select a role and experience level to estimate your salary at Packaging Corp of America.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Salary at Packaging Corp of America
$82,000
$6,833/month · $39.42/hr
Est. total comp with 10% bonus: $90,200
About Packaging Corp of America
Packaging Corp of America is a manufacturing company headquartered in Lake Forest, IL, founded in 1959. With approximately 15,000 employees, it is a major employer in the manufacturing sector.
Headquarters
Lake Forest, IL
Founded
1959
Industry
Manufacturing
Company Size
large
Employees
15,000
Median Salary
$70,000
Hourly Rate
$37.50/hr
Monthly Pay
$6,500
Packaging Corp of America Employee Ratings
3.6
★★★★☆
Overall Rating
Similar Manufacturing Companies
Methodology & Sources for Packaging Corp of America Salary Data
How we estimate Packaging Corp of America compensation data: Our salary figures combine self-reported employee compensation data (Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, Comparably, Blind), SEC filings for public companies (DEF 14A proxy statements include executive compensation), and BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for industry baselines. We weight recent data points (last 2 years) higher to reflect current market conditions.
- Base salary distribution aggregated from employee-reported data points. Packaging Corp of America (founded 1959, 15K employees, headquartered in Lake Forest, IL) is in the Manufacturing sector.
- Total compensation includes base salary, bonus, and where applicable, equity or other long-term incentives. At Packaging Corp of America, bonuses vary by role, level, location, performance cycle, and business division.
- Level mapping normalizes role names across companies (Entry/Junior/Mid/Senior/Lead/Principal/Director) for cross-company comparison.
- Cost-of-living adjustment uses BLS regional CPI-U data when comparing Packaging Corp of America's Lake Forest, IL salaries to other markets.
- Industry benchmarking compares Packaging Corp of America compensation to BLS national averages for Manufacturing sector occupations.
Authoritative compensation data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national salary baselines for Manufacturing
- SEC EDGAR — Company Filings — public company executive compensation in DEF 14A proxies
- BLS Industries at a Glance — Manufacturing — sector employment, wages, productivity
- BLS Employment Cost Index — quarterly compensation trend data
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level wage data by industry
- DOL Wage and Hour Division — federal wage compliance and minimum wage
Disclaimer: Packaging Corp of America compensation data is aggregated from multiple sources and reflects general patterns, not guaranteed offers. Actual salaries vary based on level, location, negotiation, performance, and equity vesting. For personalized career advice, consult HR professionals or executive coaches. For job offers, always negotiate based on multiple data points and your unique value.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Salary data last updated May 19, 2026 · Page reviewed May 26, 2026 · BLS data current as of latest annual release
Packaging Corp of America Salary FAQ
What is the average salary at Packaging Corp of America in 2026?
The average salary at Packaging Corp of America is $78,000 per year in 2026. Entry-level positions start around $42,000, while senior professionals earn up to $128,000. Total compensation including bonuses and equity averages $92,000.
What benefits does Packaging Corp of America offer?
Packaging Corp of America offers a comprehensive benefits package including Health/dental/vision, 401k match, Stock purchase, and 2 more benefits. The company also offers stock options or equity compensation. The average bonus is approximately 10% of base salary.
What are the highest paying roles at Packaging Corp of America?
The highest paying roles at Packaging Corp of America include Software Engineer ($78,000), Product Manager ($74,100), Operations Manager ($63,180). Executive-level positions can earn up to $310,000 or more annually.
How does Packaging Corp of America compare to other Manufacturing companies?
Packaging Corp of America has a 3.6/5.0 employee rating and $78,000 average salary. Compared to peers like General Electric and Caterpillar, it offers competitive compensation in the Manufacturing sector.
Is Packaging Corp of America a good company to work for?
Packaging Corp of America has a 3.6/5.0 overall rating and 3.4/5.0 work-life balance score. Employees give the company above-average ratings. The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, IL and was founded in 1959, employing 15K people worldwide.
What is the total compensation at Packaging Corp of America?
Total compensation at Packaging Corp of America averages $92,000 per year, which includes base salary ($78,000), bonuses (approximately 10% of base), and equity or long-term incentive grants. Senior and executive roles can see significantly higher total compensation packages.
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