Machine Feeders and Offbearers
Transportation and Material Moving
The job sits at the infeed and discharge of machines that run automatically or under someone else's watch. Materials go onto the machine or conveyor with hand tools and moving devices; finished pieces come off and get moved with industrial trucks or hand trucks. You inspect for defects, weigh or measure against specifications, mark samples as instructed, and write down how much was processed. Dual-control buttons start, stop, or adjust the equipment, and machines and work areas need regular cleaning to stay safe and usable. Suits people who like staying close to a production line, checking pieces against a spec, and keeping a running record of what went through.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$41'220
Median Wage Market Position
$41'220
What you might do
- Load materials into machines and conveyors
- Take finished goods off machines and conveyors
- Check materials and products for defects
- Start, stop, or adjust machine controls
- Weigh or measure items to match requirements
- Mark materials, products, and samples as directed
Skills that matter
- Watch machines while you feed them
- Log how much material was processed
- Read specs and labels before loading
- Defect checks as product comes off
- Start, stop, and adjust machine controls
- Clear jams and keep equipment running
AI & the future of this role
Feeding and clearing machines is already tightly tied to automation, so integrated loaders may shrink how much of this role stays separate. Remaining work likely centers on jams, changeovers, and keeping lines running.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details