How much does a machine feeder make?
Answer: A typical machine feeder in the United States makes $41,220 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 42,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Machine feeder pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $32,220 | $41,220 | $58,160 | about 42,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $55,120 | about 570 |
| Colorado | $48,400 | about 650 |
| Missouri | $46,580 | about 1,000 |
| Washington | $45,600 | about 1,000 |
| Oregon | $45,580 | about 2,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience and skill, the employer’s industry, and where the job is located. A factory or warehouse job, more complex tasks, or extra responsibility can also make a difference.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a machine feeder do?
Feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.
What's a typical day like?
Feeders load material onto a conveyor or into a machine, then take finished items off the line. They check products for flaws, record how much was processed, and clean the equipment or work area.
How to get this job
A high school diploma or GED is common; new hires learn on the job, with training lasting days to a year. There is no single starting age: federal rules bar under-18s from certain hazardous machines, and state rules may be stricter.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
O*NET reports that 94% of surveyed workers wear protective gear every day, such as safety glasses, gloves, or hearing protection.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Transportation and Material Moving jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/53-7063.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes537063.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/whd/youthrules/YouthRulesBrochure.pdf
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY