Machine Feeders and Offbearers Salary
The median pay for a machine feeders and offbearers in California is $40,380/year ($19.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $38,044 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 88.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in California?
About machine feeders and offbearers
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What this looks like in California
Machine feeders and offbearers pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $40K locally vs. $41K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 88% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level machine feeders and offbearers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Machine Feeders and Offbearers salary by metro in California
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi | $49K | +22% | 200 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $47K | +18% | 190 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $44K | +9% | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $44K | +9% | 290 |
| Visalia | $44K | +8% | 320 |
| Merced | $42K | +4% | 50 |
| Modesto | $40K | -1% | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $39K | -3% | 240 |
| Fresno | $39K | -3% | 80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $39K | -3% | 910 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $39K | -4% | 300 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $39K | -4% | 1,480 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $38K | -5% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a machine feeders and offbearer afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 88% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for machine feeders and offbearers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new machine feeders and offbearers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,214/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 112% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is machine feeders and offbearer a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $40K locally vs. $41K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for machine feeders and offbearers?
California pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $41K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — below the national median.
How much do machine feeders and offbearers make in California?
The median is $40,380 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,900, and experienced machine feeders and offbearers can clear $58,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,807/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 88% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a machine feeders and offbearers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median machine feeders and offbearers salary is worth about $38,044 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do machine feeders and offbearers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.