Conveyor Operators and Tenders
SOC 53-7011 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Conveyor Operators and Tenders is $39,260, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $42,900, and an estimated 24,660 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +9.8% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -6.8% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will shrink 3.4% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Conveyor Operators and Tenders has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $39,260 | $39,260 | 24,660 |
| 2022 | $36,890 | $38,409 | 27,780 |
| 2021 | $36,420 | $40,954 | 28,650 |
| 2020 | $35,770 | $42,113 | 23,160 |
Nominal change
+9.8%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-6.8%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-3.4%
Declining
Employment 2024
29,100
Projected 2034
28,100
Annual Openings
2,600
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Conveyor Operators and Tenders earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $39,260. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $102,420 | +160.9% | 70 |
| Wyoming | $81,030 | +106.4% | 90 |
| Kentucky | $68,250 | +73.8% | 1,190 |
| Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $65,430 | +66.7% | 220 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $63,110 | +60.7% | 40 |
| West Virginia | $62,780 | +59.9% | 610 |
| Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $59,420 | +51.3% | 40 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $58,530 | +49.1% | 80 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $54,290 | +38.3% | 70 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $48,880 | +24.5% | 110 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$32,770
25th Pct
$35,290
Median
$39,260
75th Pct
$47,000
90th Pct
$59,910
Related Occupations in Transportation & Material Moving
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.