Transportation and material moving
Machine feeders and offbearers
Feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.
Median pay
$41,220
Growth to 2035
−13%
declining
Openings a year
4,000
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Machine feeders and offbearers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Machine feeders and offbearers: 39% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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: Cotton Tipper · Dryer Feeder · Feeder · Lug Loader · Machine Feeder · Offbearer · Sawmill Worker · Sewing Line Baler
Outlook and AI
Machine feeders and offbearers held 41,800 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 36,300 by 2035 (−13%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as automated equipment replaces roles of loading and unloading products and materials into machinery and equipment.
Compare with
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- Machine feeders and offbearers vs. Packers and packagers, hand
- Machine feeders and offbearers vs. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
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