Machine Feeders and Offbearers
Feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.
Also called: Cotton Tipper · Dryer Feeder · Feeder · Lug Loader · Machine Feeder · Offbearer
Median pay (national)
$39,700
$31,480–$57,010 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
46,690
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-13%
~4,700 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for machine feeders and offbearers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $57,010 versus $31,480 at the bottom 10% — 1.8x. The median of $39,700 leaves roughly 44% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -13% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 4,700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 44 states with released data, Louisiana pays the most for this role (median $50,510, +27% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $20,890 — a 142% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- 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.
- Fasten, package, or stack materials and products, using hand tools and fastening equipment.
- Identify and mark materials, products, and samples, following instructions.
- Transfer materials and products to and from machinery and equipment, using industrial trucks or hand trucks.
- Remove materials and products from machines and equipment, and place them in boxes, trucks or conveyors, using hand tools and moving devices.
Tools & technology
- Machine operation software
- Work time tracking software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Education and Training
- Administrative
- Administration and Management