How much does a machine feeder and offbearer make?
The median machine feeder and offbearer in the United States earns $41,220 per year, about $19.82 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all machine feeders and offbearers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 53-7063.
Machine feeder and offbearer salary range
Pay for machine feeders and offbearers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $32,220 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $58,160. The average (mean) wage of $43,660 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,220 | $15.49 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $36,420 | $17.51 | |
| Median (50th) | $41,220 | $19.82 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $48,480 | $23.31 | |
| 90th percentile | $58,160 | $27.96 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for machine feeders and offbearers (SOC 53-7063), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Machine feeder and offbearer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Machine feeders and offbearers earn the most in Wisconsin at $55,120 a year, and the least in Maine at $32,310. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $55,120 | 570 |
| Wyoming | $51,280 | 30 |
| Minnesota | $48,740 | 410 |
| Colorado | $48,400 | 650 |
| Kansas | $47,930 | 430 |
| Missouri | $46,580 | 1,280 |
| New Hampshire | $46,580 | 200 |
| Washington | $45,600 | 1,040 |
| Oregon | $45,580 | 2,390 |
| Nebraska | $45,470 | 210 |
| Arkansas | $45,250 | 1,580 |
| Iowa | $45,250 | 560 |
| Ohio | $45,130 | 2,930 |
| New Jersey | $44,890 | 850 |
| Delaware | $44,110 | 30 |
| Massachusetts | $43,510 | 620 |
| New York | $43,450 | 770 |
| Louisiana | $43,370 | 130 |
| Idaho | $42,580 | 170 |
| Michigan | $42,320 | 740 |
| Kentucky | $42,200 | 980 |
| Maryland | $41,590 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,220 | 1,390 |
| Nevada | $40,550 | 150 |
| Tennessee | $40,400 | 450 |
| California | $40,380 | 4,830 |
| Arizona | $40,250 | 170 |
| Utah | $40,160 | 140 |
| Georgia | $39,360 | 1,550 |
| West Virginia | $39,360 | 180 |
| South Dakota | $39,310 | 660 |
| Alabama | $38,810 | 2,160 |
| Mississippi | $38,340 | 670 |
| South Carolina | $38,050 | 680 |
| Indiana | $37,850 | 2,800 |
| North Carolina | $37,370 | 2,040 |
| Texas | $37,350 | 3,100 |
| Connecticut | $36,950 | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $36,680 | 310 |
| Virginia | $36,290 | 1,340 |
| Florida | $35,110 | 1,110 |
| Rhode Island | $32,770 | N/A |
| Maine | $32,310 | 210 |
State median wages for machine feeders and offbearers (SOC 53-7063), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for machine feeders and offbearers
The BLS projects employment of machine feeders and offbearers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 13.1%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 41,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 36,300 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 4,000 openings a year for machine feeders and offbearers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a machine feeder and offbearer
The typical entry-level education for machine feeders and offbearers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a machine feeder and offbearer earns
Route type, employer, endorsements, and hours behind the wheel drive pay. Long-haul, specialized freight, and union employers tend to sit at the top of the range, while local and entry-level roles start lower.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Wisconsin, $55,120) and the lowest (Maine, $32,310) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 42,330 people work as machine feeders and offbearers in the United States. At $41,220 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Machine feeder and offbearer salary FAQ
How much does a machine feeder and offbearer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a machine feeder and offbearer is $19.82. The middle half of machine feeders and offbearers earn between $17.51 and $23.31 per hour.
What is the highest machine feeder and offbearer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of machine feeders and offbearers earn more than $58,160 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a machine feeder and offbearer make a year?
The median annual salary for a machine feeder and offbearer is $41,220. The average (mean) wage of $43,660 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a machine feeder and offbearer a well paid job?
At $41,220 a year, a machine feeder and offbearer earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 42,330 people work as machine feeders and offbearers in the United States.
Which state pays machine feeders and offbearers the most?
Wisconsin has the highest median salary for machine feeders and offbearers at $55,120 a year. Wyoming ($51,280) and Minnesota ($48,740) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a machine feeder and offbearer a good career?
Employment of machine feeders and offbearers is projected to shrink 13.1% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 4,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a machine feeder and offbearer?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for machine feeders and offbearers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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