What Do Conveyor Operators and Tenders Do?

Example of a Conveyor Operator or Tender Job 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.

What do Conveyor Operators and Tenders do On a Daily Basis?

• Distribute materials, supplies, and equipment to work stations, using lifts and trucks.
• Clean, sterilize, and maintain equipment, machinery, and work stations, using hand tools, shovels, brooms, chemicals, hoses, and lubricants.
• Operate elevator systems in conjunction with conveyor systems.
• Contact workers in work stations or other departments to request movement of materials, products, or machinery, or to notify them of incoming shipments and their estimated delivery times.
• Operate consoles to control automatic palletizing equipment.
• Manipulate controls, levers, and valves to start pumps, auxiliary equipment, or conveyors, and to adjust equipment positions, speeds, timing, and material flows.

What a Conveyor Operator or Tender Should Know

Below is a list of the skills most Conveyor Operators and Tenders say are important on the job.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Types of Conveyor Operators and Tenders

• Sinter Feeder
• Cement Loader
• Belt Operator
• Pneumatic System Conveyor Operator
• Operator

Job Opportunities for Conveyor Operators and Tenders

There were about 28,100 jobs for Conveyor Operators and Tenders in 2016 (in the United States).

Conveyor Operator or Tender jobs are decreasing by a rate of -1.2%. This means the total job opportunities are shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a loss of -300 jobs for Conveyor Operators and Tenders by 2026. The BLS estimates 3,700 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Conveyor Operators and Tenders are Texas, California, and Florida.

Watch out if you plan on working in Iowa, Ohio, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for Conveyor Operators and Tenders

The salary for Conveyor Operators and Tenders ranges between about $23,960 and $49,890 a year. The median salary for this occupation is $32,980.

How much do Conveyor Operators and Tenders make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Wyoming	$70,560
West Virginia	$53,390
Utah	$44,900
Montana	$41,610
Nevada	$40,560
Wisconsin	$40,190
Idaho	$39,890
Oregon	$39,660
Alabama	$39,280
North Dakota	$39,030
Massachusetts	$38,350
Kentucky	$38,190
Pennsylvania	$37,700
Washington	$37,630
Maine	$37,470
Michigan	$37,460
Tennessee	$36,910
Louisiana	$36,650
New York	$36,560
California	$36,170
New Hampshire	$36,000
Minnesota	$35,690
Kansas	$35,510
New Jersey	$35,350
Delaware	$35,100
South Carolina	$35,080
Georgia	$35,050
Colorado	$34,910
Indiana	$34,740
Iowa	$34,730
Hawaii	$34,660
Oklahoma	$34,330
Virginia	$34,180
Maryland	$34,080
Illinois	$33,900
North Carolina	$33,770
Ohio	$33,590
New Mexico	$33,190
Missouri	$32,500
South Dakota	$32,390
Nebraska	$32,080
Mississippi	$31,750
Florida	$30,330
Arizona	$29,850
Arkansas	$29,060
Texas	$28,870

Tools & Technologies Used by Conveyor Operators and Tenders

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Conveyor Operators and Tenders may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Windows
• Data entry software

How to Become a Conveyor Operator or Tender

Are there Conveyor Operator or Tender education requirements?

What work experience do I need to become a Conveyor Operator or Tender?

Where do Conveyor Operators and Tenders Work?

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons