Life As a Conveyor Operator or Tender
Conveyor Operator or Tender 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.
Life As a Conveyor Operator or Tender
- 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.
- Observe packages moving along conveyors to identify packages, detect defective packaging, and perform quality control.
- Read production and delivery schedules, and confer with supervisors, to determine sorting and transfer procedures, arrangement of packages on pallets, and destinations of loaded pallets.
- 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.
Featured schools near , edit
Qualities of a Conveyor Operator or Tender
When polled, Conveyor Operators and Tenders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Related Job Titles
- Cooker Loader
- Chip Bin Conveyor Tender
- Chip Unloader
- Cement Loader
- Line Operator
Conveyor Operator or Tender Employment Estimates
There were about 28,100 jobs for Conveyor Operator or Tender in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Conveyor Operator or Tender. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 3,700 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Conveyor Operator or Tender are Idaho, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in New Mexico, Maine, or Iowa. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Conveyor Operator or Tender Make?
Conveyor Operators and Tenders make between $23,960 and $49,890 a year.

Conveyor Operators and Tenders who work in Wyoming, West Virginia, or Utah, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Conveyor Operators and Tenders in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $39,280 |
Arizona | $29,850 |
Arkansas | $29,060 |
California | $36,170 |
Colorado | $34,910 |
Delaware | $35,100 |
Florida | $30,330 |
Georgia | $35,050 |
Hawaii | $34,660 |
Idaho | $39,890 |
Illinois | $33,900 |
Indiana | $34,740 |
Iowa | $34,730 |
Kansas | $35,510 |
Kentucky | $38,190 |
Louisiana | $36,650 |
Maine | $37,470 |
Maryland | $34,080 |
Massachusetts | $38,350 |
Michigan | $37,460 |
Minnesota | $35,690 |
Mississippi | $31,750 |
Missouri | $32,500 |
Montana | $41,610 |
Nebraska | $32,080 |
Nevada | $40,560 |
New Hampshire | $36,000 |
New Jersey | $35,350 |
New Mexico | $33,190 |
New York | $36,560 |
North Carolina | $33,770 |
North Dakota | $39,030 |
Ohio | $33,590 |
Oklahoma | $34,330 |
Oregon | $39,660 |
Pennsylvania | $37,700 |
South Carolina | $35,080 |
South Dakota | $32,390 |
Tennessee | $36,910 |
Texas | $28,870 |
Utah | $44,900 |
Virginia | $34,180 |
Washington | $37,630 |
West Virginia | $53,390 |
Wisconsin | $40,190 |
Wyoming | $70,560 |
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:
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Windows
How to Become a Conveyor Operator or Tender
Are there Conveyor Operators and Tenders education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Conveyor Operator or Tender?

Where Conveyor Operators and Tenders Are Employed

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |