53 Series · SOC 53-7011
Conveyor Operators and Tenders Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $42,420
- Median / year
- $59,470
- Top 10% earn
- -3.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 22,930
- US workers
Conveyor Operators and Tenders earn a median of $42,420 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $42,420, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $36,180 (10th percentile) to $59,470 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 22,930 US workers. West Virginia pays the most ($62,830), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Conveyor Operators and Tenders earn a median of $42,420, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 15% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks #35 of 50 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 3.4% by 2033.
- $42,420
- Median annual wage
- Top 85%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #35 of 50
- in Transportation and Material Moving
- 1.6×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: West Virginia at $62,830. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Conveyor Operators and Tenders (SOC 53-7011) pays a national median of $42,420 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $36,180 at the 10th percentile to $59,470 at the 90th, with a mean of $45,080 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 22,930 Americans work in this occupation across 44 reporting states and 103 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -3.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,600 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of C for this role, with a fatality rate of 17.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 4.8 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. West Virginia pays the highest state median at $62,830, which is +48% above the national figure. The top metro is Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area at $109,490 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$42,420
per year
Median Hourly
$20.39/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$45,080
average
Employment
22,930
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Conveyor Operators and Tenders pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$42,420 Bottom 15% higher than 15% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 53-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Conveyor Operators and Tenders; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 53-series occupations with growth data, Conveyor Operators and Tenders sits on the slower-growing side at -3.4% growth and $42,420 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-3.4%
Declining
Annual Openings
2,600
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Moderate Risk
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
17.5/100K
Injury Rate
4.8/100
Danger Index
28/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Conveyor Operators and Tenders roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Observe packages moving along conveyors to identify packages, detect defective packaging, and perform quality control.
- ▸ Collect samples of materials or products, checking them to ensure conformance to specifications or sending them to laboratories for analysis.
- ▸ Inform supervisors of equipment malfunctions that need to be addressed.
- ▸ Position deflector bars, gates, chutes, or spouts to divert flow of materials from one conveyor onto another conveyor.
- ▸ Observe conveyor operations and monitor lights, dials, and gauges to maintain specified operating levels and to detect equipment malfunctions.
- ▸ Record production data such as weights, types, quantities, and storage locations of materials, as well as equipment performance problems and downtime.
- ▸ Repair or replace equipment components or parts such as blades, rolls, and pumps.
- ▸ Load, unload, or adjust materials or products on conveyors by hand, by using lifts, hoists, and scoops, or by opening gates, chutes, or hoppers.
- ▸ Stop equipment or machinery and clear jams, using poles, bars, and hand tools, or remove damaged materials from conveyors.
- ▸ Manipulate controls, levers, and valves to start pumps, auxiliary equipment, or conveyors, and to adjust equipment positions, speeds, timing, and material flows.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$36,180
25th Percentile
$38,180
Median
$42,420
75th Percentile
$48,530
90th Percentile
$59,470
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 44 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $62,830 | +48% above national |
| 2 | Iowa | $56,900 | +34% above national |
| 3 | Maryland | $56,120 | +32% above national |
| 4 | Alabama | $55,970 | +32% above national |
| 5 | Louisiana | $54,590 | +29% above national |
| 6 | Wyoming | $52,480 | +24% above national |
| 7 | New Jersey | $50,750 | +20% above national |
| 8 | Utah | $48,620 | +15% above national |
| 9 | North Dakota | $47,770 | +13% above national |
| 10 | Indiana | $46,300 | +9% above national |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $45,130 | +6% above national |
| 12 | South Dakota | $44,890 | +6% above national |
| 13 | Kentucky | $44,800 | +6% above national |
| 14 | Illinois | $44,290 | +4% above national |
| 15 | Missouri | $44,100 | +4% above national |
| 16 | Washington | $43,480 | +2% above national |
| 17 | Oregon | $43,410 | +2% above national |
| 18 | Nebraska | $43,360 | +2% above national |
| 19 | California | $43,150 | +2% above national |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $43,150 | +2% above national |
| 21 | Minnesota | $43,000 | +1% above national |
| 22 | Hawaii | $42,880 | +1% above national |
| 23 | New York | $42,670 | +1% above national |
| 24 | Idaho | $40,750 | 4% below national |
| 25 | Texas | $40,650 | 4% below national |
| 26 | Georgia | $40,630 | 4% below national |
| 27 | Colorado | $40,480 | 5% below national |
| 28 | Vermont | $40,390 | 5% below national |
| 29 | Kansas | $40,030 | 6% below national |
| 30 | Virginia | $39,840 | 6% below national |
| 31 | Ohio | $39,610 | 7% below national |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $39,550 | 7% below national |
| 33 | Michigan | $39,340 | 7% below national |
| 34 | Arizona | $39,260 | 7% below national |
| 35 | North Carolina | $39,160 | 8% below national |
| 36 | Montana | $38,760 | 9% below national |
| 37 | Nevada | $38,450 | 9% below national |
| 38 | Mississippi | $38,320 | 10% below national |
| 39 | Maine | $38,310 | 10% below national |
| 40 | Tennessee | $38,260 | 10% below national |
| 41 | Florida | $38,190 | 10% below national |
| 42 | South Carolina | $38,020 | 10% below national |
| 43 | Arkansas | $36,940 | 13% below national |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $36,200 | 15% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 103 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $109,490 | +158% above national |
| 2 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $69,370 | +64% above national |
| 3 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $66,920 | +58% above national |
| 4 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $66,580 | +57% above national |
| 5 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $64,160 | +51% above national |
| 6 | Baton Rouge, LA | $63,780 | +50% above national |
| 7 | Merced, CA | $62,970 | +48% above national |
| 8 | Charleston, WV | $62,820 | +48% above national |
| 9 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $62,670 | +48% above national |
| 10 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $61,430 | +45% above national |
| 11 | Paducah, KY-IL | $59,140 | +39% above national |
| 12 | Evansville, IN | $57,780 | +36% above national |
| 13 | Birmingham, AL | $55,110 | +30% above national |
| 14 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $50,810 | +20% above national |
| 15 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $50,410 | +19% above national |
| 16 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $49,910 | +18% above national |
| 17 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $49,680 | +17% above national |
| 18 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $48,710 | +15% above national |
| 19 | Greeley, CO | $48,470 | +14% above national |
| 20 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $48,400 | +14% above national |
| 21 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $48,390 | +14% above national |
| 22 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $48,260 | +14% above national |
| 23 | Wichita, KS | $48,240 | +14% above national |
| 24 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $48,210 | +14% above national |
| 25 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $47,980 | +13% above national |
| 26 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $47,700 | +12% above national |
| 27 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $47,290 | +11% above national |
| 28 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $46,770 | +10% above national |
| 29 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $46,660 | +10% above national |
| 30 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $46,310 | +9% above national |
| 31 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $45,980 | +8% above national |
| 32 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $45,570 | +7% above national |
| 33 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $45,400 | +7% above national |
| 34 | York-Hanover, PA | $45,130 | +6% above national |
| 35 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $44,980 | +6% above national |
| 36 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $44,910 | +6% above national |
| 37 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $44,800 | +6% above national |
| 38 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $44,730 | +5% above national |
| 39 | Omaha, NE-IA | $44,650 | +5% above national |
| 40 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $44,390 | +5% above national |
| 41 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $44,210 | +4% above national |
| 42 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $44,160 | +4% above national |
| 43 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $43,950 | +4% above national |
| 44 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $43,830 | +3% above national |
| 45 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $43,780 | +3% above national |
| 46 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $43,620 | +3% above national |
| 47 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $43,390 | +2% above national |
| 48 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $43,350 | +2% above national |
| 49 | Modesto, CA | $43,230 | +2% above national |
| 50 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $43,150 | +2% above national |
| 51 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $43,120 | +2% above national |
| 52 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $42,990 | +1% above national |
| 53 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $42,960 | +1% above national |
| 54 | Lincoln, NE | $42,910 | +1% above national |
| 55 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $42,790 | +1% above national |
| 56 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $42,670 | +1% above national |
| 57 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $42,420 | same as national |
| 58 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $42,090 | 1% below national |
| 59 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $41,410 | 2% below national |
| 60 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $41,140 | 3% below national |
| 61 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $40,750 | 4% below national |
| 62 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $40,460 | 5% below national |
| 63 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $40,430 | 5% below national |
| 64 | Salinas, CA | $40,280 | 5% below national |
| 65 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $40,210 | 5% below national |
| 66 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $40,060 | 6% below national |
| 67 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $39,550 | 7% below national |
| 68 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $39,400 | 7% below national |
| 69 | Winston-Salem, NC | $39,360 | 7% below national |
| 70 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $39,270 | 7% below national |
| 71 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $39,200 | 8% below national |
| 72 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $39,200 | 8% below national |
| 73 | Reno, NV | $39,080 | 8% below national |
| 74 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $38,990 | 8% below national |
| 75 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $38,770 | 9% below national |
| 76 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $38,330 | 10% below national |
| 77 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $38,260 | 10% below national |
| 78 | Columbus, OH | $38,210 | 10% below national |
| 79 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $38,190 | 10% below national |
| 80 | Syracuse, NY | $38,170 | 10% below national |
| 81 | Appleton, WI | $38,160 | 10% below national |
| 82 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $38,100 | 10% below national |
| 83 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $38,050 | 10% below national |
| 84 | Richmond, VA | $37,920 | 11% below national |
| 85 | Eau Claire, WI | $37,890 | 11% below national |
| 86 | Fresno, CA | $37,810 | 11% below national |
| 87 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $37,650 | 11% below national |
| 88 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $37,540 | 12% below national |
| 89 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $37,500 | 12% below national |
| 90 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $37,380 | 12% below national |
| 91 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $37,320 | 12% below national |
| 92 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $37,280 | 12% below national |
| 93 | Columbia, SC | $37,230 | 12% below national |
| 94 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $37,200 | 12% below national |
| 95 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $36,960 | 13% below national |
| 96 | Rochester, MN | $36,560 | 14% below national |
| 97 | Winchester, VA-WV | $36,550 | 14% below national |
| 98 | Vineland, NJ | $36,540 | 14% below national |
| 99 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $36,520 | 14% below national |
| 100 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $36,390 | 14% below national |
| 101 | Knoxville, TN | $36,350 | 14% below national |
| 102 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $36,070 | 15% below national |
| 103 | Lubbock, TX | $29,120 | 31% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 53 (transportation and material moving) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Conveyor Operators and Tenders pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $48,530/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: West Virginia leads at $62,830/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.