Conveyor Operators and Tenders: Job Description
Control or tend conveyors or conveyor systems that move materials or products to and from stockpiles, processing stations, departments, or vehicles. May control speed and routing of materials or products.
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What Do Conveyor Operators and Tenders Perform?
Typical responsibilities of conveyor operators and tenders include:
- Inform supervisors of equipment malfunctions that need to be addressed.
- 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.
- 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.
- Distribute materials, supplies, and equipment to work stations, using lifts and trucks.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top conveyor operators and tenders combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Conveyor Operators and Tenders Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Aerial Tram Operator
- Ash Conveyor Operator
- Assembly Line Tender
- Bed Operator
- Belt Operator
- Belt Technician (Belt Tech)
- Belt Tender
- Beltman
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 549,923 conveyor operators and tenders working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -2.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Conveyor Operators and Tenders
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $35,021 |
| Hourly median | $16.84 |
| 10th percentile | $25,543 |
| 25th percentile | $30,282 |
| 75th percentile | $39,759 |
| 90th percentile | $44,498 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Conveyor Operators and Tenders Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $75,550 |
| West Virginia | $63,200 |
| Kentucky | $55,920 |
| Alabama | $54,480 |
| Louisiana | $47,840 |
| Iowa | $47,720 |
| Montana | $46,090 |
| Indiana | $45,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,590 |
| Illinois | $44,260 |
| Washington | $44,030 |
| Michigan | $43,330 |
| Maine | $43,280 |
| South Dakota | $43,080 |
| New York | $43,040 |
| Missouri | $42,910 |
| Oregon | $42,660 |
| Minnesota | $42,540 |
| California | $41,660 |
| Wisconsin | $40,740 |
| Utah | $40,680 |
| Idaho | $40,030 |
| Kansas | $39,870 |
| Colorado | $39,720 |
| Nebraska | $39,650 |
| Massachusetts | $39,560 |
| Virginia | $38,710 |
| Arizona | $38,560 |
| Tennessee | $38,290 |
| North Carolina | $38,110 |
| New Jersey | $37,910 |
| Texas | $37,600 |
| Ohio | $37,590 |
| Maryland | $37,550 |
| Florida | $37,500 |
| Arkansas | $37,190 |
| New Hampshire | $36,730 |
| Georgia | $36,330 |
| Oklahoma | $36,180 |
| Nevada | $35,910 |
| Mississippi | $35,090 |
| South Carolina | $35,070 |
Where Conveyor Operators and Tenders Earn the Most
Earnings for conveyor operators and tenders shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast | $44,268 | 27.8% | 1.90 |
| Rocky Mountains | $43,963 | 4.7% | 1.34 |
| Middle Atlantic | $42,587 | 6.0% | 0.43 |
| Great Lakes | $42,451 | 11.9% | 0.89 |
| Far Western US | $41,761 | 18.9% | 1.15 |
| Plains States | $41,417 | 16.5% | 4.07 |
| New England | $40,482 | 1.2% | 0.64 |
| Southwest | $37,477 | 13.0% | 1.30 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling, WV-OH | WV | $63,200 | 90 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $56,960 | 40 |
| Merced, CA | CA | $55,500 | 60 |
| Birmingham, AL | AL | $54,110 | 100 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | MI | $52,970 | 170 |
| Visalia, CA | CA | $52,040 | 60 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | MO | $49,940 | 30 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | MO | $48,950 | 40 |
Top Industries Employing Conveyor Operators and Tenders
Most conveyor operators and tenders are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 12,140 | $38,650 |
| Manufacturing | 5,900 | $49,520 |
| Wholesale Trade | 5,010 | $42,190 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1,380 | $64,130 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 700 | $37,140 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 170 | $40,440 |
| Retail Trade | 150 | $37,580 |
| Utilities | 130 | $97,710 |
Conveyor Operators and Tenders work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for conveyor operators and tenders tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level conveyor operators and tenders positions require less than a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Agricultural Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining (Supplemental)
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Primary-Long)
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery (Supplemental)
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (Primary-Short)
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-7011.00 (Conveyor Operators and Tenders).
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