Machine Feeders and Offbearers

ManufacturingO*NET 53-7063.00United States

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

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$41,165

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
−8.5%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
High school diploma or less

93.7% of the workforce

Employment
46.85K jobs

Growing to 42.85K by 2035

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Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What machine feeders and offbearers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the 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.
  • 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.
  • Fasten, package, or stack materials and products, using hand tools and fastening equipment.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$32,132
25th percentile
$36,329
50th percentile
$41,165
75th percentile
$48,412
90th percentile
$58,148

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $41,165 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−8.5%projected to decline
202546,852 jobs
2035 projected42,851 jobs

4,001 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less
93.7%
Certificate
4%
Associate degree
2.3%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Palletizing
  • Pallet Jacks
  • Machinery
  • Warehousing
  • Packaging And Labeling
  • Housekeeping
  • Lifting Ability
  • Production Line
  • Finished Good
  • Mechanical Aptitude
  • Safety Procedures
  • Safety Standards
  • General Mathematics
  • Forklift Truck
  • Hand Tools
  • Health and Safety Regulatory Compliance
  • Machine Setup
  • Material Handling
  • Printing Press
  • Production Schedule

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Feeders103 postings
  2. 02Press Feeders27 postings
  3. 03Feeder Operators17 postings
  4. 04Carers10 postings
  5. 05Feed Mill Managers4 postings
  6. 06Gluer Operators3 postings
  7. 07Finishing Machine Operators2 postings
  8. 08Offset Press Operators2 postings
  9. 09Feeder Drivers1 postings
  10. 10Folder Gluer Operators1 postings
  11. 11Mailroom Managers1 postings
  12. 12Set Up Machinists1 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Surge Staffing15 postings
  2. 02Smurfit Westrock14 postings
  3. 03Veritiv12 postings
  4. 04Graphic Packaging International10 postings
  5. 05Beef Northwest Feeders8 postings
  6. 06Staffmark8 postings
  7. 07Alsco5 postings
  8. 08Aerotek4 postings
  9. 09Diamond Graphics4 postings
  10. 10WestRock4 postings
  11. 114Over3 postings
  12. 12Alliance Workforce3 postings
  13. 13ManpowerGroup3 postings
  14. 14Natural Grocers3 postings
  15. 15Sonderen Packaging3 postings
  16. 16Barnhardt Manufacturing Company2 postings
  17. 17Cavalier Packaging Co2 postings
  18. 18Digital Room2 postings
  19. 19Express Employment Professionals2 postings
  20. 20Industrial Packaging Corporation2 postings

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