Conveyor operators and tenders salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,180 | $17.39 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $42,420 | $20.39 |
| Mean (average) | $45,080 | $21.68 |
| 90th percentile | $59,470 | $28.59 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Conveyor operators and tenders pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 44 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $55,970 | $46,080 | $62,540 | 210 | 0.67 |
| Arizona | $39,260 | $36,490 | $44,670 | 360 | 0.75 |
| Arkansas | $36,940 | $33,450 | $47,480 | 300 | 1.54 |
| California | $43,150 | $39,890 | $51,400 | 2,460 | 0.91 |
| Colorado | $40,480 | $37,590 | $56,690 | 370 | 0.87 |
| Florida | $38,190 | $36,350 | $43,720 | 470 | 0.32 |
| Georgia | $40,630 | $36,720 | $53,100 | 600 | 0.83 |
| Hawaii | $42,880 | $42,880 | $43,890 | ||
| Idaho | $40,750 | $37,200 | $49,660 | 240 | 1.9 |
| Illinois | $44,290 | $36,530 | $59,310 | 480 | 0.53 |
| Indiana | $46,300 | $37,300 | $99,970 | 610 | 1.29 |
| Iowa | $56,900 | $43,190 | $63,780 | 590 | 2.57 |
| Kansas | $40,030 | $31,770 | $56,100 | 840 | 3.98 |
| Kentucky | $44,800 | $39,180 | $58,390 | 780 | 2.65 |
| Louisiana | $54,590 | $33,650 | $64,750 | 210 | 0.73 |
| Maine | $38,310 | $35,680 | $66,920 | 200 | 2.13 |
| Maryland | $56,120 | $34,610 | $70,840 | 30 | 0.08 |
| Massachusetts | $43,150 | $38,710 | $43,170 | 170 | 0.32 |
| Michigan | $39,340 | $35,610 | $56,950 | 410 | 0.63 |
| Minnesota | $43,000 | $37,660 | $51,570 | 460 | 1.06 |
| Mississippi | $38,320 | $32,290 | $52,720 | 230 | 1.32 |
| Missouri | $44,100 | $36,490 | $56,950 | 290 | 0.68 |
| Montana | $38,760 | $37,240 | $57,200 | 370 | 4.91 |
| Nebraska | $43,360 | $37,460 | $48,440 | 1,180 | 7.81 |
| Nevada | $38,450 | $37,440 | $49,570 | 350 | 1.52 |
| New Jersey | $50,750 | $36,540 | $56,790 | 210 | 0.33 |
| New York | $42,670 | $34,730 | $53,560 | 720 | 0.5 |
| North Carolina | $39,160 | $37,320 | $47,620 | 840 | 1.15 |
| North Dakota | $47,770 | $37,140 | $121,540 | 80 | 1.27 |
| Ohio | $39,610 | $38,000 | $49,960 | 340 | 0.42 |
| Oklahoma | $36,200 | $33,090 | $57,870 | 350 | 1.41 |
| Oregon | $43,410 | $40,680 | $59,000 | 390 | 1.36 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,130 | $36,940 | $63,770 | 450 | 0.5 |
| South Carolina | $38,020 | $34,900 | $44,980 | 440 | 1.31 |
| South Dakota | $44,890 | $36,180 | $52,480 | 500 | 7.35 |
| Tennessee | $38,260 | $36,350 | $51,410 | 760 | 1.58 |
| Texas | $40,650 | $33,840 | $58,900 | 2,380 | 1.15 |
| Utah | $48,620 | $41,410 | $64,390 | 140 | 0.53 |
| Vermont | $40,390 | $39,190 | $40,390 | 50 | 1.21 |
| Virginia | $39,840 | $34,820 | $58,470 | 820 | 1.36 |
| Washington | $43,480 | $37,550 | $59,110 | 640 | 1.22 |
| West Virginia | $62,830 | $39,400 | $74,810 | 580 | 5.59 |
| Wisconsin | $39,550 | $37,890 | $59,890 | 450 | 1.04 |
| Wyoming | $52,480 | $37,210 | $112,060 | 120 | 2.94 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for conveyor operators and tenders
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 20.6%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for conveyor operators and tenders
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Stop equipment or machinery and clear jams, using poles, bars, and hand tools, or remove damaged materials from conveyors.
- Load, unload, or adjust materials or products on conveyors by hand, by using lifts, hoists, and scoops, or by opening gates, chutes, or hoppers.
- Observe conveyor operations and monitor lights, dials, and gauges to maintain specified operating levels and to detect equipment malfunctions.
- Observe packages moving along conveyors to identify packages, detect defective packaging, and perform quality control.
- Position deflector bars, gates, chutes, or spouts to divert flow of materials from one conveyor onto another conveyor.
- Clean, sterilize, and maintain equipment, machinery, and work stations, using hand tools, shovels, brooms, chemicals, hoses, and lubricants.
- Record production data such as weights, types, quantities, and storage locations of materials, as well as equipment performance problems and downtime.
- Inform supervisors of equipment malfunctions that need to be addressed.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Control system software
- Conveyor control software
- Intelligrated InControlWare
- Sortation software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Complex Problem Solving, Troubleshooting, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Chipper Operator, Conveyor Operator, Conveyor Tender, Flumer, Machine Operator, Package Line Operator, Packaging Line Operator, Process Line Operator, Process Operator, Strapper Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do conveyor operators and tenders make?
The national median annual wage for conveyor operators and tenders was $42,420 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $36,180 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $59,470. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do conveyor operators and tenders need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is conveyor operators and tenders a growing career?
BLS projects employment of conveyor operators and tenders to change -2.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay conveyor operators and tenders the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were West Virginia ($62,830), Iowa ($56,900), Maryland ($56,120). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.