Compensation Snapshot

November 6, 2026

Key workforce benchmarking data for independent converters

Navigating today’s competitive labor market requires more than intuition—it requires hard data. With that in mind, AICC is pleased to announce the release of the 2026 Salary, Hourly Wage & Benefits Report. This report offers the most thorough analysis to date of employee salaries, wages, and benefits within independent corrugator and sheet plants across the United States. For the independent packaging sector, this benchmark data is a vital tool to set competitive pay rates, optimize benefits packages, and ultimately recruit and retain top talent.

The survey, conducted throughout this past spring, collected data from 30 independent corrugator/sheet feeder plants and 65 sheet plants, representing a total workforce of 8,960 employees. In all, 29 management positions and 86 nonmanagement positions were examined. The finished report segments data by plant type (corrugator/sheet feeder versus sheet plant) and organizational role (management versus nonmanagement). From there, a detailed breakdown of salary and wage data for each job position is provided, along with additional insight into tenure (years in position), plant size (number of employees), and geographic location (AICC region).

The 2026 data reveals steady wage growth, even as the rapid pace of annual pay increases seen in recent years begins to moderate. Across all participants, the average management employee received a 4% pay increase between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026. This reflects a smaller percentage increase compared to the 2024 report, which illustrated a 5.1% average increase. Similarly, nonmanagement personnel saw a 3.8% pay increase, shifting from the 4.3% average increase reported in 2024. Sheet plants demonstrated robust, broad-based compensation growth. Average base salaries were higher in 2026 for 29 out of the 31 positions that could be directly compared to 2024 data. Corrugator facilities also experienced positive wage momentum, reporting higher average base salaries in 16 of 24 comparable positions since 2024.

Beyond compensation, the 2026 Salary, Hourly Wage & Benefits Report shows that AI adoption is officially underway, though it remains in the relatively early stages. Participants were asked how they’re currently using AI, the areas of the business where AI is currently being leveraged, how AI has impacted their workforce, and the primary goals in adopting AI. In corrugator plants, HR/recruiting is the most common area for AI application, while sheet plants are primarily utilizing AI for executive decision support. Crucially, the primary goal of this adoption across the board is to improve operational efficiency, and very few responding plants reported reducing headcount as a result of AI implementation.

All responses to this survey were collected and compiled by Industry Insights Inc. (Dublin, Ohio) and have been held in the strictest confidence. None of the data received has been seen by any AICC member or staff member.

AICC would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the member companies that made this report possible. The accuracy and reliability of AICC’s surveys depend on the data we receive, and we can produce these valuable tools only when you take the time to respond. As in years past, AICC has provided the finished report to all participating companies free of charge.

For anyone else looking for a copy of the complete report, the 2026 Salary, Hourly Wage & Benefits Report is available for purchase by visiting www.AICCbox.org/store or by scanning the QR code on this page.

If you have questions, or if you need further assistance, please contact AICC Director of Membership Patrick Moore at 703-535-1394 or pmoore@AICCbox.org.