Conveyor Operators and Tenders Salary
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 23K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$42,420
Median hourly
$20
Average annual
$45,080
Typical range
$36,180–$59,470
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Conveyor Operators and Tenders is $42,420 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $20 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $36,180 and $59,470 a year. There are roughly 23K people employed as conveyor operators and tenders in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Conveyor Operators and Tenders.
- Hourly
- $20.39
- Daily
- $163
- Weekly
- $816
- Bi-weekly
- $1,632
- Monthly
- $3,535
- Annual
- $42,420
$42,420 a year is around the 50th percentile for Conveyor Operators and Tenderss. The median is $42,420.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1West Virginia$62,830
- 2Iowa$56,900
- 3Maryland$56,120
- 4Alabama$55,970
- 5Louisiana$54,590
- 6Wyoming$52,480
- 7New Jersey$50,750
- 8Utah$48,620
- 9North Dakota$47,770
- 10Indiana$46,300
- 11Pennsylvania$45,130
- 12South Dakota$44,890
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Wheeling, WV-OH$64,160
- 2Baton Rouge, LA$63,780
- 3Merced, CA$62,970
- 4Charleston, WV$62,820
- 5Paducah, KY-IL$59,140
- 6Evansville, IN$57,780
- 7Birmingham, AL$55,110
- 8San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$50,810
- 9Kansas City, MO-KS$50,410
- 10Chattanooga, TN-GA$49,910
- 11Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ$49,680
- 12Greeley, CO$48,470
Related job titles
Employers advertise Conveyor Operators and Tenders roles under these titles.
- Ash Conveyor Operator
- Assembly Line Tender
- Belt Technician (Belt Tech)
- Bin Tripper Operator
- Boom Conveyor Operator
- Brick Unloader Tender
- Cement Loader
- Char Conveyor Tender
- Chip Bin Conveyor Tender
- Chip Bin Operator
- Chip Loft Worker
- Chipper Operator
- Coke Loader
- Console Attendant
- Conveyer Technician
- Conveyor Attendant
Related occupations
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers$41,220
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders$58,870
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,420
- Hoist and Winch Operators$56,450
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,540
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,520
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$46,350
What a Conveyor Operators and Tenders does
- Distribute materials, supplies, and equipment to work stations, using lifts and trucks.
- 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.
- Inform supervisors of equipment malfunctions that need to be addressed.
- Stop equipment or machinery and clear jams, using poles, bars, and hand tools, or remove damaged materials from conveyors.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Conveyor Operators and Tenders make?
- The median annual wage for Conveyor Operators and Tenders is $42,420 ($20 per hour). Pay ranges from about $36,180 at the 10th percentile to $59,470 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Conveyor Operators and Tenders?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $45,080, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Conveyor Operators and Tenderss the most?
- West Virginia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $62,830.
- Is Conveyor Operators and Tenders a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 23K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Conveyor Operators and Tenders do?
- Distribute materials, supplies, and equipment to work stations, using lifts and trucks.; 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..