Beverage Industry Worker Job Description, Career as a Beverage Industry Worker, Salary, Employment

Education and Training: High school diploma preferred

Average Salary: $48,000 per year

Job Outlook: Very good

Basic Job Description

Beverage industry workers in this specific field specialize in bottling beveraged goods such as soda, wine, and beer and ship them out of the factory for distribution. Work is similar to an assembly line and very routine, typically operating machinery that dispenses the liquid into a bottle, tests it for safety and security measures, secure the bottle lids, attach safety seals, package the bottles into crates, containers and boxes and prepare them for shipment to grocery or liquor stores, restaurants and bars. A factory worker is often put in charge of one machine to work with it and make sure it is operating properly.

Education and Training Requirements

Many factory workers do not have prior experience of their current job. Most employers require a high school diploma or equivalent in order to work for their company. Since many factories have specific routine to follow and procedures to comply with, on the job training is often required before letting someone into the factory to work by themselves. Every factory is different, but there may be a series of safety or standardized tests the employer requires in order for an employee to gain the proper knowledge and complete tasks properly. Working in a factory can be dangerous, especially working with heavy machinery, so it is important to be knowledgeable on exactly what you’re working with. There are also safety and sanitation procedures that are required for working in the food and beverage industry, particularly when working with bottling beverages and applying safety seals. They vary by state and by job, so employers will also provide education and training on practices that need to be followed while working with beverages. Many times there is required training by the state, and you will have to sign a contract or complete a training course before continuing to work in the beverage packing industry.

Getting the Job

Getting a job as a beverage industry factory worker will not necessarily require previous experience, but will require the ability to be a fast learner, ability to lift heavy items and operate heavy machinery, as well as the ability to comply with specific safety rules that are required for factory work as well as working with food and beverage. Preferred prior experience, if any, would be previous factory work experience, previous work in a restaurant, bar or other food and beverage establishment, previous work distributing beverages, and knowledge of procedures and safety requirements for handling food and beverage items. Workers must be aggressive, quick to the draw and able to handle working routine procedures for long periods of time. Most factories provide on the job training to anyone who is hired in regardless of their previous work experience due to standard procedures or state requirements for working in the beverage industry as well as in a factory.

Job Prospects, Employment Outlook and Career Development

Work in a factory that handles beverages can lead to other career opportunities including managing a factory establishment and supervising other factory workers, working in customer service by distributing the finished product to customers, or working in sales and helping to promote and sell the product to new companies. Factory work is often considered the bottom of the totem pole, so workers with the right attitude, motivation and work ethic can go nowhere but up if they push themselves hard enough and dedicate their time and effort.

Technology advancements are also being considered for factory work. After working in a factory and understanding exactly how everything works, some factory workers may help to find new technology advancements that will assist factory workers and help get jobs done more effectively. After working in a factory for a number of years, many workers will think of new ways to help make things run better. Working in the technology industry related to factories can help bring some of these ideas to life.

Outlook for jobs in this industry are always looking up. Any position in the food and beverage industry can be considered “recession-proof,” as people will always need these products and restaurants and bars will always be purchasing them. Due to safety and sanitation requirements placed by the FDA, products in this industry will always have to go through specific procedures to ensure their safety when being distributed to the consumers. Because of this, factory workers with knowledge of the requirements and standard procedures will still be needed as well.

Working Conditions and Environment

Working conditions for factory workers are often strenuous, uncomfortable and very routine. To work in a factory, you should easily be able to lift up to 100 pounds, if not more, and capable of comfortably operating heavy machinery and fixing any glitches if a machine is having trouble operating. Work is usually very routine and involves working with one specific machine, making sure it doesn’t miss any objects going through and is operating properly.

Workers should be capable of standing for long hours in conditions that can get extremely hot. The use of heavy machinery often requires brute force and can make the area uncomfortably warm. Workers need to be able to stand the heat and continue operating the machine regardless of drastic changes.

The advancement of technology is also affecting factory work. As more and more technology advances and new discoveries are being made, it is being used to make work in factories less and less difficult. The use of human labor is needed less, but these jobs are still much needed as it will be quite some time before machines completely replace the use of manual labor in any factory, particularly one working with food and beverages.

Salary and Benefits

The average salary for a factory worker is about $48,000 per year. Many factory workers in this industry work a strict set of hours during the day, typically 40-50 hour workweeks. For full-time employees, full medical benefits are almost always available. Specific medical plans vary according to employer.

Where to Go for More Information

PepsiCo, Inc.
700 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577
(914) 253-2000
http://www.pepsico.com

SodaStream USA
One Mall Drive
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
(800) 763-2258
http://www.sodastreamusa.com