Occupation salary profile

Machine Feeders and Offbearers

SOC 53-7063 BLS OEWS May 2025

Feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.

National median · BLS
$41,220
▲ +3.83% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$43,660
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
42,330
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Machine Feeders and Offbearers

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$32,220
25th$36,420
Median (50th)$41,220
75th$48,480
90th — top pay$58,160

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Machine Feeders and Offbearers

BLS projects employment of machine feeders and offbearers to decline 13.1% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%. About 4,000 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
41,800 → 36,300
-5,500 jobs
Projected change
-13.1%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
4,000
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-declining jobs → Best-paying jobs that need no formal education →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Machine Feeders and Offbearers

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Operations Monitoring3.4
  • Monitoring3.0
  • Active Listening2.8
  • Quality Control Analysis2.8
  • Reading Comprehension2.8
  • Speaking2.8
  • Troubleshooting2.8
  • Operation and Control2.6
  • Coordination2.5
  • Critical Thinking2.5
Top knowledge areas
  • Production and Processing3.4
  • Mechanical3.1
  • Mathematics3.0
  • English Language2.9
  • Public Safety and Security2.7
  • Education and Training2.7
  • Administrative2.6
  • Administration and Management2.5
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMachine operation softwareWork time tracking software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What machine feeders and offbearers do

  • 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.
Also called
Dryer FeederFeederMachine FeederOffbearerCotton TipperLug LoaderSawmill WorkerSewing Line BalerTube Puller
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Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.