Conveyor Operators and Tenders

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.

Also called: Chipper Operator, Conveyor Operator, Conveyor Tender, Flumer, Machine Operator, Package Line Operator, Packaging Line Operator, Process Line Operator, Process Operator, Strapper Operator, Ash Conveyor Operator, Assembly Line Tender, Bed Operator, Belt Operator, Belt Technician (Belt Tech), Belt Tender, Beltman, Bin Tripper Operator, Boom Conveyor Operator, Bull-Chain Operator, Char Conveyor Tender, Chip Bin Conveyor Tender, Chip Bin Operator, Conveyor Attendant, Conveyor Belt Operator, Conveyor Console Operator, Conveyor System Operator, Conveyor Technician (Conveyor Tech), Drier Take-Off Tender, Extrusion Operator, Grain Elevator Operator, Line Operator, Mechanical Conveyor Installer, Packing Line Operator, Palletizer Operator, Pneumatic System Conveyor Operator, Production Supply Equipment Tender, Silo Operator, Silo Tender, Tipple Operator, Tipple Tender, Transfer Operator

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

Stop equipment or machinery and clear jams, using poles, bars, and hand tools, or remove damaged materials from conveyors.
Load, unload, or adjust materials or products on conveyors by hand, by using lifts, hoists, and scoops, or by opening gates, chutes, or hoppers.
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.
Position deflector bars, gates, chutes, or spouts to divert flow of materials from one conveyor onto another conveyor.
Clean, sterilize, and maintain equipment, machinery, and work stations, using hand tools, shovels, brooms, chemicals, hoses, and lubricants.
Record production data such as weights, types, quantities, and storage locations of materials, as well as equipment performance problems and downtime.
Inform supervisors of equipment malfunctions that need to be addressed.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Monitoring
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving
Reading Comprehension
Troubleshooting
Quality Control Analysis
Judgment and Decision Making
Time Management

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Less than a High School Diploma (70.04% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

38,180–48,530 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 53-7011.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop inventory, scheduling, planning, and supply-chain analysis experience; explore coordinator, planner, or logistics-lead responsibilities.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Less than a High School Diploma (70.04% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Conveyor Operators and Tenders