Description

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

Interests

Realistic
Conventional

Learn More about Interests

Work Values

Relationships
Support
Independence

Learn More about Work Values

Work Styles

Dependability
Attention to Detail
Cooperation
Concern for Others
Independence

Learn More about Work Styles

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.

Work Activities

Handling and Moving Objects
Controlling Machines and Processes
Getting Information
Performing General Physical Activities
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Detailed Work Activities

Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Performing General Physical Activities - Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software
Electronic mail software
Office suite software
Time accounting software
Industrial control software

Skills

Operations Monitoring
Monitoring

Knowledge

Production and Processing
Mechanical
Mathematics

Most Common Education Level

The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.

Certificates

These are the certification(s) applicable to Machine Feeders and Offbearers:

Certificate name	Certifying Organization	Type

Income Percentile

The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.

Income Percentile	Income
Low (10%)	$NaN
Median (50%)	$NaN
High (90%)	$NaN

Income by Experience

This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–7 years), to senior level (8+ years).

Experience	Income
Entry Level	$50,000
Mid Level	$100,000
Senior Level	$150,000

Employability

There are currently 43,800 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to decrease to 38,200 positions, reflecting a projected decline of -13%.

The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.

Projected Job Growth of -13%

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Median Annual Income

$47,040

Projected Job Growth

-8 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate, or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material.

RealisticConventional

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Median Annual Income

$42,610

Projected Job Growth

-11 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.

RealisticConventional

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing

Median Annual Income

$38,260

Projected Job Growth

-2 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment.

RealisticConventional

Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$44,510

Projected Job Growth

-1 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.

RealisticConventional

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$44,310

Projected Job Growth

-3 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.

RealisticConventional

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$42,670

Projected Job Growth

+3 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines, such as glass-forming machines, plodder machines, and tuber machines, to shape and form products such as glassware, food, rubber, soap, brick, tile, clay, wax, tobacco, or cosmetics.

RealisticConventional

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$43,540

Projected Job Growth

-1 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Operate or tend bonding machines that use adhesives to join items for further processing or to form a completed product. Processes include joining veneer sheets into plywood; gluing paper; or joining rubber and rubberized fabric parts, plastic, simulated leather, or other materials.

RealisticConventional

Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$47,250

Projected Job Growth

-13 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products.

RealisticConventional

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

Median Annual Income

$37,660

Projected Job Growth

+4 %

Career Cluster(s)

Supply Chain & Transportation

Most Common Education Level

No formal educational credential

Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.

RealisticConventional

Packers and Packagers, Hand

Median Annual Income

$34,830

Projected Job Growth

-4 %

Career Cluster(s)

Supply Chain & Transportation

Most Common Education Level

No formal educational credential

Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.

ConventionalRealistic

The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), with ONET® being a registered trademark of USDOL/ETA. Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA; CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED); and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).