Machine Feeders and Offbearers build operations monitoring, quality control analysis and troubleshooting skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (93%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 93% | $50,270 | +22% | None |
| 2 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | 90% | $46,460 | +13% | None |
| 3 | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 89% | $46,570 | +13% | None |
| 4 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 88% | $45,760 | +11% | None |
| 5 | Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 88% | $48,540 | +18% | None |
| 6 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 86% | $46,350 | +12% | None |
| 7 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 85% | $46,550 | +13% | None |
| 8 | Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | 85% | $48,040 | +17% | None |
| 9 | Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 84% | $43,220 | +5% | None |
| 10 | Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 84% | $50,140 | +22% | None |
Compared with Machine Feeders and Offbearers, median $41,220. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as machine feeders and offbearers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
93% skill match · $50,270 · +22% pay
Equipment Maintenance · Complex Problem Solving · Technology Design
90% skill match · $46,460 · +13% pay
Operation and Control · Repairing · Systems Analysis
89% skill match · $46,570 · +13% pay
Operation and Control · Repairing · Equipment Maintenance
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (93% skill match, median $50,270), Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders (90% skill match, median $46,460) and Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (89% skill match, median $46,570), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 19 pay more than machine feeders and offbearers at the median. The biggest increases: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (+135%, $96,710), Tire Builders (+39%, $57,390) and Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (+32%, $54,430).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.