Machine Feeders and Offbearers
What Machine Feeders and Offbearers Do
Feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 0.9%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 2 of 5Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Job training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Production and Processingimportance 3.4/5
- Mechanicalimportance 3.1/5
- Mathematicsimportance 3.0/5
- English Languageimportance 2.9/5
- Public Safety and Securityimportance 2.7/5
- Education and Trainingimportance 2.7/5
- Administrativeimportance 2.6/5
- Administration and Managementimportance 2.5/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets4.8/5
- Spend Time Standing4.5/5
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.3/5
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable4.2/5
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment4.1/5
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.1/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Tire Builders94% skill match
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic94% skill match
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders94% skill match
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders93% skill match
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers93% skill match
- Sewing Machine Operators93% skill match
- Subway and Streetcar Operators93% skill match
- Foundry Mold and Coremakers92% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Operations Monitoringimportance 3.4/5
- Troubleshootingimportance 2.8/5
- Quality Control Analysisimportance 2.8/5
- Operation and Controlimportance 2.6/5
- Social Perceptivenessimportance 2.5/5
- Coordinationimportance 2.5/5
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 2.5/5
- Time Managementimportance 2.5/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
Other Software Used
- Machine operation software
- Work time tracking software
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
- Stress Tolerance
- Cooperation
- Achievement Orientation
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- RealisticHigh
- ConventionalMedium
- InvestigativeLow
- ArtisticLow
- SocialLow
- EnterprisingLow
Specific Interests
A more detailed breakdown of this occupation’s interest profile, per O*NET.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where machine feeders and offbearers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Vineland, NJ14.27× national avg
- 2Albany, OR10.46× national avg
- 3Fort Smith, AR-OK8.81× national avg
- 4Harrisonburg, VA8.15× national avg
- 5Medford, OR7.70× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandLateral Move
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersCareer Change
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersCareer Change
- Tire BuildersCareer Change
See the full career path from Machine Feeders and Offbearers →