The median pay for Conveyor Operators and Tenders is $42,420 a year ($20.39/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 2.6% through 2035, with about 2,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 53-7011
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Conveyor Operator and Tender in four numbers
- Median pay
- $42,420a year, or $20.39/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $36KTop 10% $59K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -2.6%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−2.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −2.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,20029,000 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202529K
- Projected 203528.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 29K Projected 2035 28.2K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school70%
- High school24.3%
- Certificate0.5%
- Some college5.1%
Highest education held by conveyor operators and tenders Segment Value Less than high school 70% High school 24.3% Certificate 0.5% Some college 5.1%
Also advertised as: Chipper Operator, Conveyor Operator, Conveyor Tender, Flumer, Machine Operator, Package Line Operator.
Pay
How much do Conveyor Operators and Tenders make?
Every conveyor operator and tender in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$42,420
Middle half earn $38,180 to $48,530
- 10th
- $36,180
- 25th
- $38,180
- 75th
- $48,530
- 90th
- $59,470
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $36,180 |
| 25th | $38,180 |
| Median | $42,420 |
| 75th | $48,530 |
| 90th | $59,470 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $42,420
- Median hourly wage
- $20.39/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $45,080
- People employed
- 22,930
Versus all US occupations
At $42,420, Conveyor Operators and Tenders earn 17% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $8,560 a year.
Versus transportation and material moving occupations
Inside the Transportation and Material Moving group, where the middle occupation pays $62,840, this is 32% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $59,470 or more while the bottom 10% earn $36,180, a gap of 1.6×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 9% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
West Virginia pays the most at $62,830, and still leads at $70,203 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Conveyor Operators and Tenders the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1West Virginia | $62,830 | $70,203 | 580 |
| 2Iowa | $56,900 | $64,834 | 590 |
| 3Maryland | $56,120 | $53,468 | 30 |
| 4Alabama | $55,970 | $63,013 | 210 |
| 5Louisiana | $54,590 | $61,889 | 210 |
| 6Wyoming | $52,480 | $56,618 | 120 |
| 7New Jersey | $50,750 | $46,643 | 210 |
| 8Utah | $48,620 | $49,179 | 140 |
| 9North Dakota | $47,770 | $53,699 | 80 |
| 10Indiana | $46,300 | $49,609 | 610 |
Job outlook
Is Conveyor Operator and Tender a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -2.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | −2.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Conveyor Operators and Tenders to change -2.6% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 800 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,200 openings are projected each year, 7.6% of the 29,000 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of material moving machine operators is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 70,700 openings for material moving machine operators are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of material moving machine operators varies by occupation (see table).
Getting in
How to become a Conveyor Operator and Tender
Education and training requirements vary by occupation. Crane operators typically have several years of experience in a related occupation.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as conveyor operators and tenders.
- Less than a High School Diploma70%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)24.3%
- Some College Courses5.1%
- Post-Secondary Certificate0.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 70% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 24.3% |
| Some College Courses | 5.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Conveyor Operator and Tender do?
Control or tend conveyors or conveyor systems that move materials or products to and from stockpiles, processing stations, departments, or vehicles. May control speed and routing of materials or products.
Material moving machine operators use equipment to transport objects. For example, some operators move goods around factories and storage areas or onto container ships. Others move construction materials around building sites.
Day-to-day tasks
- Inform supervisors of equipment malfunctions that need to be addressed.
- Load, unload, or adjust materials or products on conveyors by hand, by using lifts, hoists, and scoops, or by opening gates, chutes, or hoppers.
- 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.
- Observe conveyor operations and monitor lights, dials, and gauges to maintain specified operating levels and to detect equipment malfunctions.
- Position deflector bars, gates, chutes, or spouts to divert flow of materials from one conveyor onto another conveyor.
- Stop equipment or machinery and clear jams, using poles, bars, and hand tools, or remove damaged materials from conveyors.
- Observe packages moving along conveyors to identify packages, detect defective packaging, and perform quality control.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most material moving machine operators work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Because materials are shipped around the clock, some work overnight shifts.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.4
- Active Listening3.1
- Speaking3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Writing2.8
- Active Learning2.8
- Learning Strategies2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring4.0
- Operation and Control4.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Troubleshooting2.9
- Quality Control Analysis2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Time Management2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Operation and Control | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Troubleshooting | 2.9 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Industrial control software
- Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Conveyor Operator and Tender?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Conveyor Operator and Tender |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.1
- Conventional5.0
- Enterprising2.6
- Investigative1.4
- Social1.2
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Conveyor Operator and Tender
O*NET related occupations
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator
$46,420median a year
Most earn $37K to $63K
+1.5%No formal credential - Transportation and Material Moving
- Production
Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber
$46,350median a year
Most earn $36K to $64K
−3.3%High school - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
More transportation and material moving careers
Median annual pay, with conveyor operators and tenders highlighted
- Airline Pilot$232,140
- Commercial Pilot$123,220
- Locomotive Engineer$81,410
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster$78,000
- Crane and Tower Operator$68,080
- Flight Attendant$63,580
- Truck Driver$58,640
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690
- Conveyor Operator and Tender$42,420
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilot | $232,140 |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $81,410 |
| Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster | $78,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $68,080 |
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $49,690 |
| Conveyor Operator and Tender | $42,420 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Conveyor Operator and Tender appears on
Questions
Conveyor Operator and Tender: frequently asked questions
How much do Conveyor Operators and Tenders make?
Conveyor Operators and Tenders earn a median of $42,420 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 17% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $20.39/hr. The middle half earn between $38,180 and $48,530. The top 10% earn $59,470 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Conveyor Operator and Tender?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Conveyor Operators and Tenders, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 70.0% hold less than a high school diploma.
Is Conveyor Operator and Tender a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 2.6% over 2025–2035, a loss of 800 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Conveyor Operator and Tender do?
Material moving machine operators use equipment to transport objects. A core O*NET task: inform supervisors of equipment malfunctions that need to be addressed. Employers most often ask for Enterprise resource planning ERP software, Operating system software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Conveyor Operators and Tenders the most?
The highest state medians for Conveyor Operators and Tenders are West Virginia ($62,830), Iowa ($56,900), Maryland ($56,120) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Conveyor Operator and Tender?
O*NET scores Conveyor Operators and Tenders highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.