# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conveyor-operators-and-tenders
- SOC code: 53-7011.00
- Career family: Transportation
- Median annual pay: $42,420 (10th percentile $36,180, 90th percentile $59,470)
- Projected growth: Decline, -2.6%
- Openings a year: 2,200
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 86 |
| Investigative (I) | 6 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 3 |
| Enterprising (E) | 26 |
| Conventional (C) | 66 |

## What you'd do

- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 70/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 60/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 60/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 58/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 58/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 58/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 58/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 57/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 56/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 56/100)

## Skills

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

## Knowledge

English Language, Mechanical, Public Safety and Security, Production and Processing, Transportation, Education and Training, Law and Government, Customer and Personal Service, Administrative, Administration and Management

## Also called

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

## Related careers

- [Machine Feeders and Offbearers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/machine-feeders-and-offbearers): $41,220 median pay
- [Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tank-car-truck-and-ship-loaders): $58,870 median pay
- [Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-truck-and-tractor-operators): $46,420 median pay
- [Hoist and Winch Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hoist-and-winch-operators): $56,450 median pay
- [Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extruding-and-forming-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-synthetic-and-glass-fibers): $46,350 median pay
- [Industrial Machinery Mechanics](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-machinery-mechanics): $64,520 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.