For the fifth consecutive year, the Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP) has released the key findings of its Career & Salary Survey (2025) for the Food, Beverage and wider industries, and has also opened up the 2026 iteration.
According Nerida Kelton, executive director of the AIP, the report was developed to provide a more detailed breakdown of the people who make up the industry – including their roles, education, experience, career satisfaction, concerns and salaries.
The survey and results cover the industry across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
“The 2025 report provides not only salaries and career-related data, but it also highlights the growing level of technical packaging professionals within the industry,” she explained.
“Now more than ever, with Extended Producer Responsibility and eco-modulation coming to the Australasian region, we need to see more technically skilled packaging professionals in the industry.
“Packaging technologists and engineers need to have the technical qualifications to ensure that the packaging materials, designs and choices being made are fit for purpose, functional and offer the lowest environmental impact.
“This is where the AIP can help train packaging manufacturers, suppliers, brands and retailers to have the most technically-competent teams in readiness for the next era of packaging design.”
According to Pierre Pienar, education director at the AIP, if you are growing your team, or simply need to retain the talent you have, then the report provides the insights to ensure that you have the most qualified team in place to keep your business moving in the right direction.
“The 2025 report once again showed how well qualified the people are that work in our industry,” he continued.
“While the industry is very-well skilled, we still need to see more people technically qualified in the science, engineering and/or technology of packaging. Packaging is a science, and anyone that is a packaging technologist or engineer requires formal qualifications in the field.”
This is exactly the reason why the AIP works to fill in that technical packaging knowledge gap for everyone that works in, and around packaging.
“Knowledge can be attained through our training courses, workshops, forums, webinars, the Fundamentals of Packaging Technology course, Certificate in Packaging Technology, Diploma in Packaging Technology, the Master of Food & Packaging Innovation degree and the Certified Packaging Professional designation,” Pienaar added.
“The more packaging professionals in the Australasian region that undertake education and training through the AIP, the more informed and technically-sound packaging decisions will be made, for the overall betterment of the company and the industry.”
AIP members can access the full 2025 AIP Career & Salary Survey report by emailing info@aipack.com.au with their request for a copy. An executive summary is available to the wider industry on the AIP website.
2026 survey now open
On top of the release, the 2026 Salary & Career Survey is now open for Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
Developed in partnership with sister-association the IoPP, the 2026 survey will once again provide a clear look into roles, experience, education, career satisfaction, challenges and salaries of packaging professionals.
The AIP is seeking input from packaging professionals to ensure the development of a definitive resource for the region’s industry. Those who complete the confidential survey (including non-members) will receive the final 2026 full report from the AIP for free.
The deadline to complete this survey is Friday 18 September 2026. To complete the confidential survey, click here.
