Machine feeders and offbearers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $41,220 | $19.82 |
| Mean (average) | $43,660 | $20.99 |
| 90th percentile | $58,160 | $27.96 |
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
Machine feeders and offbearers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 45 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,810 | $29,310 | $50,110 | 2,160 | 3.75 |
| Arizona | $40,250 | $35,690 | $45,800 | 170 | 0.19 |
| Arkansas | $45,250 | $33,280 | $49,760 | 1,580 | 4.44 |
| California | $40,380 | $36,900 | $58,050 | 4,830 | 0.97 |
| Colorado | $48,400 | $36,740 | $57,110 | 650 | 0.83 |
| Connecticut | $36,950 | $34,970 | $46,640 | 120 | 0.26 |
| Delaware | $44,110 | $33,230 | $64,170 | 30 | 0.24 |
| Florida | $35,110 | $30,570 | $52,280 | 1,110 | 0.41 |
| Georgia | $39,360 | $31,060 | $51,700 | 1,550 | 1.17 |
| Idaho | $42,580 | $36,030 | $55,420 | 170 | 0.74 |
| Illinois | Data unavailable | 1,450 | 0.87 | ||
| Indiana | $37,850 | $31,270 | $52,090 | 2,800 | 3.22 |
| Iowa | $45,250 | $34,540 | $56,850 | 560 | 1.32 |
| Kansas | $47,930 | $36,330 | $56,000 | 430 | 1.11 |
| Kentucky | $42,200 | $35,340 | $65,650 | 980 | 1.79 |
| Louisiana | $43,370 | $28,010 | $52,620 | 130 | 0.25 |
| Maine | $32,310 | $32,310 | $46,280 | 210 | 1.19 |
| Maryland | $41,590 | $31,340 | $61,040 | 110 | 0.15 |
| Massachusetts | $43,510 | $38,110 | $47,070 | 620 | 0.62 |
| Michigan | $42,320 | $32,910 | $47,870 | 740 | 0.62 |
| Minnesota | $48,740 | $39,620 | $57,680 | 410 | 0.51 |
| Mississippi | $38,340 | $31,320 | $49,200 | 670 | 2.11 |
| Missouri | $46,580 | $31,200 | $77,100 | 1,280 | 1.61 |
| Nebraska | $45,470 | $34,970 | $47,430 | 210 | 0.76 |
| Nevada | $40,550 | $31,700 | $47,860 | 150 | 0.37 |
| New Hampshire | $46,580 | $28,670 | $59,690 | 200 | 1.07 |
| New Jersey | $44,890 | $34,630 | $56,580 | 850 | 0.72 |
| New York | $43,450 | $32,240 | $56,790 | 770 | 0.29 |
| North Carolina | $37,370 | $30,260 | $48,130 | 2,040 | 1.51 |
| Ohio | $45,130 | $34,040 | $60,410 | 2,930 | 1.94 |
| Oklahoma | $36,680 | $29,700 | $45,760 | 310 | 0.67 |
| Oregon | $45,580 | $33,260 | $56,590 | 2,390 | 4.46 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,220 | $32,230 | $58,920 | 1,390 | 0.84 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,400 | $21,840 | $26,530 | 50 | 0.19 |
| Rhode Island | $32,770 | $31,200 | $50,200 | ||
| South Carolina | $38,050 | $29,760 | $66,130 | 680 | 1.08 |
| South Dakota | $39,310 | $34,690 | $43,720 | 660 | 5.27 |
| Tennessee | $40,400 | $28,790 | $50,980 | 450 | 0.51 |
| Texas | $37,350 | $30,410 | $48,990 | 3,100 | 0.81 |
| Utah | $40,160 | $33,930 | $54,400 | 140 | 0.29 |
| Virginia | $36,290 | $30,260 | $49,600 | 1,340 | 1.2 |
| Washington | $45,600 | $38,790 | $56,300 | 1,040 | 1.08 |
| West Virginia | $39,360 | $27,810 | $39,460 | 180 | 0.94 |
| Wisconsin | $55,120 | $42,050 | $59,910 | 570 | 0.71 |
| Wyoming | $51,280 | $43,400 | $51,780 | 30 | 0.43 |
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 machine feeders and offbearers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 4,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- 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 machine feeders and offbearers
- 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
- Inspect materials and products for defects, and to ensure conformance to specifications.
- Record production and operational data, such as amount of materials processed.
- Push dual control buttons and move controls to start, stop, or adjust machinery and equipment.
- Weigh or measure materials or products to ensure conformance to specifications.
- Identify and mark materials, products, and samples, following instructions.
- Clean and maintain machinery, equipment, and work areas to ensure proper functioning and safe working conditions.
- Load materials and products into machines and equipment, or onto conveyors, using hand tools and moving devices.
- Transfer materials and products to and from machinery and equipment, using industrial trucks or hand trucks.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Machine operation software
- Work time tracking software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Troubleshooting, Quality Control Analysis, Operation and Control, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination.
Common job titles: Cotton Tipper, Dryer Feeder, Feeder, Lug Loader, Machine Feeder, Offbearer, Sawmill Worker, Sewing Line Baler, Tube Puller.
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 machine feeders and offbearers make?
The national median annual wage for machine feeders and offbearers was $41,220 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $32,220 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $58,160. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do machine feeders and offbearers 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 machine feeders and offbearers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of machine feeders and offbearers to change -13.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 4,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay machine feeders and offbearers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Wisconsin ($55,120), Wyoming ($51,280), Minnesota ($48,740). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.