Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$45,000
National baseline
Target bonus
$3,500
8% of base
Total target cash
$48,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$2,00050th$3,50075th$5,500
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
Typical entry preparation: High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in 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.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringMonitoringTroubleshootingSpeakingReading ComprehensionQuality Control Analysis
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Machine Feeders and Offbearers pay by experience level
Entry level$33,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$37,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$42,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$50,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$60,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-13%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
4,700
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Machine Feeders and Offbearers salary by industry
Food Manufacturing
7,530 workers
$41,500
Warehousing and Storage
6,360 workers
$51,000
Warehousing and Storage
6,360 workers
$51,000
Wood Product Manufacturing
5,960 workers
$43,500
Animal Slaughtering and Processing
5,080 workers
$40,000
Paper Manufacturing
3,560 workers
$46,500
Converted Paper Product Manufacturing
3,330 workers
$46,500
Administrative and Support Services
2,980 workers
$38,000
Employment Services
2,840 workers
$37,500
Printing and Related Support Activities
2,490 workers
$42,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Machine Feeders and Offbearers pays 35% below the average across 53 roles in the Transportation and Material Moving job family (family average $69,000).
Similar-paying roles in Transportation and Material Moving
Need Machine Feeders and Offbearers pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
