Machine Tender Salary in the United States

How much does a Machine Tender make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Machine Tender in the United States is $56,733 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

However, a Machine Tender's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $71,385
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $49,789 to $64,402
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43,467
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $49,789 10% $43,467 90% $71,385 75% $64,402 $56,733 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Machine Tender Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $64,402 $5,367 $1,239 $31
Average $56,733 $4,728 $1,091 $27
25th Percentile $49,789 $4,149 $957 $24
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Key Factors That Influence Machine Tender Salaries

A Machine Tender's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Machine Tender Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Machine Tender's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $54,914
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $56,394
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $59,552
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $59,891
  • Expert (over 8 years): $60,116
Levels Salary
Entry Level Machine Tender$54,914
Intermediate Level Machine Tender$56,394
Senior Level Machine Tender$59,552
Specialist Level Machine Tender$59,891
Expert Level Machine Tender$60,116
$54,914 0 yr
$56,394 < 2 yrs
$59,552 2-4 yrs
$59,891 5-8 yrs
$60,116 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Machine Tender Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Machine Tenders. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $62,814.
  • California: $62,576.
  • Massachusetts: $61,742.

Top Paying Cities for Machine Tenders

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $71,557
  • San Francisco: $70,773
  • Oakland: $69,282

What Skills Can Increase a Machine Tender's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 9.98% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Pneumatics (Mentioned in 5.18% Job Postings): Pneumatics (pronounced new-MATT-ix) is an aspect of physics and engineering that is concerned with using the energy in compressed gas to make something move or work.
  • Repairing (Mentioned in 3.22% Job Postings): To put something that is damaged, broken, or not working correctly, back into good condition or make it work again.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 9.98%
Pneumatics 5.18%
Repairing 3.22%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Machine Tender's salary.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Continuous Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Semiconductors: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment
 $61,271
8%
Continuous Improvement
 $60,137
6%
Semiconductors
 $60,137
6%
Calibration
 $59,569
5%
Technical Support
 $59,002
4%
Mechanical Troubleshooting
 $59,002
4%
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How Education impacts a Machine Tender's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Machine Tenders enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Machine Tender with a No Diploma is between $54,525 and $58,881).

Machine Tender Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Machine Tender
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 47.8%
High School 47.8%
Associates 43.5%
Bachelors 8.7%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Machine Tender Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Machine Tender's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on May 01, 2026
$49,789
Average $56,733/year
$64,402
$4,149
Average $4,728/month
$5,367
$957
Average $1,091/week
$1,239
$24
Average $27/hour
$31
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $64,402 $5,367 $1,239 $31
Average $56,733 $4,728 $1,091 $27
25th Percentile $49,789 $4,149 $957 $24

Salaries of jobs related to Machine Tender

Salary Trends for Machine Tender

Salaries for a Machine Tender can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $44,324 in 2023 to around $43,900 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Machine Tender salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Machine Tender Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$44,324
2024
$44,445
2025
$43,900
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $44,324
2024 $44,445
2025 $43,900
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Machine Tender

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Machine Tender

Here are companies hiring for Machine Tender and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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