CareerFacts

All careers › Machine Feeders and Offbearers

Feeder (machine feeders and offbearers): pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$41,220median pay per year, or $19.82 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $32,220lowest 10% earn less
  2. $36,42025th percentile
  3. $41,220median
  4. $48,48075th percentile
  5. $58,160top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median pay for a feeder was $41,220 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to shrink 13.1% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-13.1%[2]
Openings per year
4,000[5]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[6]

How much do feeders make?

BLS calls this job Machine Feeders and Offbearers. The median wage was $41,220 a year, or $19.82 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $43,660 a year, or $20.99 an hour[7].

For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[4]. So the typical feeder wage sat below the all-occupations median.

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][8] $32,220 $15.49
25th percentile[3][8] $36,420 $17.51
Median[1] $41,220 $19.82
75th percentile[3][8] $48,480 $23.31
90th percentile[3][8] $58,160 $27.96

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $32,220, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $58,160[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits[10]. About 42,330 people held these jobs[11].

Pay by state and city

Among the 43 states with published data, Wisconsin had the highest median at $55,120, followed by Wyoming at $51,280 and Minnesota at $48,740[12]. Maine had the lowest listed median at $32,310[12].

California had the most jobs with 4,830, then Texas with 3,100 and Ohio with 2,930[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Kansas City, MO-KS had the highest median at $77,100, then Columbus, OH at $60,410[14]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had the most jobs at 1,480, with a median of $38,600[15].

Show median pay in 43 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Wisconsin[12]$55,120570
Wyoming$51,28030
Minnesota$48,740410
Colorado$48,400650
Kansas$47,930430
Missouri$46,5801,280
New Hampshire$46,580200
Washington$45,6001,040
Oregon$45,5802,390
Nebraska$45,470210
Arkansas$45,2501,580
Iowa$45,250560
Ohio$45,1302,930
New Jersey$44,890850
Delaware$44,11030
Massachusetts$43,510620
New York$43,450770
Louisiana$43,370130
Idaho$42,580170
Michigan$42,320740
Kentucky$42,200980
Maryland$41,590110
Pennsylvania$41,2201,390
Nevada$40,550150
Tennessee$40,400450
California$40,3804,830
Arizona$40,250170
Utah$40,160140
Georgia$39,3601,550
West Virginia$39,360180
South Dakota$39,310660
Alabama$38,8102,160
Mississippi$38,340670
South Carolina$38,050680
Indiana$37,8502,800
North Carolina$37,3702,040
Texas$37,3503,100
Connecticut$36,950120
Oklahoma$36,680310
Virginia$36,2901,340
Florida$35,1101,110
Rhode Island$32,770n/a
Maine$32,310210

How to become a feeder

The path is short.

The training details come from a BLS profile of hand laborers and material movers, which covers a wider group than this job[16]. That profile says training usually lasts 1 month or less[17]. Some workers need only a few days[18]. New employees may shadow an experienced worker and learn safety rules[18].

In an O*NET survey of 40 workers, 73% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, and 21% said less than a high school diploma[19]. Some jobs in the wider group need a state license, such as a commercial driver's license for certain truck drivers[20]. The wider profile lists skills such as attention to detail, listening, hand-eye coordination and physical stamina[21][22][23][24].

What feeders do

Feeders put materials into machines or take them out. The machines may run automatically or be tended by other workers[25]. Tasks listed by O*NET include:

Job titles workers report include feeder, offbearer, lug loader and dryer feeder[27].

Where they work

The wider hand laborer group works in stockrooms, warehouses, manufacturing plants and other settings[28]. The work is usually repetitive and physically demanding, and it can mean lifting and carrying heavy objects[28]. BLS says injury and illness rates for this group are among the highest of any occupation[29].

Most of the wider group works full time, though part-time work is common. Schedules vary and may include nights and weekends[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of machine feeders and offbearers to fall 13.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 41,800 to 36,300 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[31]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

BLS names automated equipment as a factor. Machines that load and unload materials are taking over some of these roles[32].

Jobs still open up. About 4,000 openings are projected each year, on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 5.5% of workers leave the labor force and 6.3% move to a different occupation[33].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a job with a low barrier to entry. No formal education or experience is needed, and training is short[6]. Pay is below the all-occupations median[1][4]. Employment is projected to shrink, while openings continue from turnover[2][5]. The work is physically demanding and repetitive[28]. Pay also varies by place, so state and metro figures are worth checking[12].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[34].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a feeder make an hour?
The median hourly wage for machine feeders and offbearers was $19.82 in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $15.49 and the 90th was $27.96[8].
What education do you need to be a feeder?
BLS lists no formal educational credential for entry[6]. In an O*NET survey of 40 workers, 73% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required[19].
How long does it take to learn this job?
BLS lists short-term on-the-job training[6]. For the wider group of hand laborers, training usually lasts 1 month or less[17][16].
Is the feeder job in demand?
Employment is projected to fall 13.1% from 2025 to 2035[2]. About 4,000 openings are still projected each year[5].
Which state pays feeders the most?
Wisconsin had the highest median at $55,120 in May 2025, ahead of Wyoming at $51,280[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Machine Feeders and Offbearers in the US was $41,220 per year and $19.82 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Machine Feeders and Offbearers is projected to decline 13.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 41,800 to 36,300 jobs (a change of -5,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Machine Feeders and Offbearers: 10th percentile $32,220, 25th percentile $36,420, 75th percentile $48,480, 90th percentile $58,160. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 4,000 openings for Machine Feeders and Offbearers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Machine Feeders and Offbearers: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Machine Feeders and Offbearers was $43,660 per year and $20.99 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Machine Feeders and Offbearers: 10th percentile $15.49, 25th percentile $17.51, 75th percentile $23.31, 90th percentile $27.96. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 42,330 people were employed as Machine Feeders and Offbearers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Machine Feeders and Offbearers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Machine Feeders and Offbearers jobs: California 4,830; Texas 3,100; Ohio 2,930; Indiana 2,800; Oregon 2,390. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Machine Feeders and Offbearers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kansas City, MO-KS $77,100; Columbus, OH $60,410; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $53,650; Utica-Rome, NY $51,400; Stockton-Lodi, CA $49,260; Memphis, TN-MS-AR $49,200; Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $48,430; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $47,450. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Machine Feeders and Offbearers jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,480 (median $38,600); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,410; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,000 (median $40,400); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 910 (median $38,980); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 630 (median $43,780); Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN 600 (median $37,820). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Hand Laborers and Material Movers" covers Machine Feeders and Offbearers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. O*NET 53-7063.00 survey of workers (40 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 73%, Less than a High School Diploma 21% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Machine Feeders and Offbearers. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Machine Feeders and Offbearers. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET 53-7063.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Cotton Tipper, Dryer Feeder, Feeder, Lug Loader, Machine Feeder, Offbearer, Sawmill Worker, Sewing Line Baler. O*NET OnLine
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Machine Feeders and Offbearers: Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as automated equipment replaces roles of loading and unloading products and materials into machinery and equipment. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Machine Feeders and Offbearers: 5.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the 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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.