Office Machine Operators, Except Computer
Office Machine Operators, Except Computer (SOC 43-9071) earn a median $40,960 a year ($19.69 an hour) in the United States, with 25,130 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Alaska.
What office machine operators, except computer do
Office machine operators, except computer, run one or more kinds of office machines, including photocopying, photographic, and duplicating equipment. O*NET names equipment such as high-speed business copiers, scanners, addressing and stencil-cutting machines, microfilm readers and printers, folding and inserting machines, bursters, and binders. The operator reads job orders to find out the type of work, the quantities, and the materials needed, then places originals in feed trays, feeds them into feed rolls, or positions them on tables under camera lenses. Machines are set up and adjusted for speed, ink flow, focus, and number of copies. Finished work is sorted, assembled, proofed, and delivered. Operators complete records of production, including work volumes, materials used, and backlogs, and may compute prices and receive payment or give billing information to supervisors. Alternate titles include collating machine operator, check embosser, and coin wrapping machine operator. Mail clerks and billing and posting clerks are excluded.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: Braille Coder, Braille Duplicating Machine Operator, Business Machine Operator, Check Embosser, Check Writing Machine Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $15.27 | $17.35 | $19.69 | $23.03 | $27.87 | $20.78 | 25,130 |
| Annual | $31,750 | $36,090 | $40,960 | $47,910 | $57,960 | $43,220 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where office machine operators, except computer earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $11.94 | $13.83 | $26.93 | $33.32 | $46.34 | $27.06 | 70 | 0.21 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $24,830 | $28,760 | $56,010 | $69,300 | $96,390 | $56,290 | ||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $18.23 | $19.34 | $23.26 | $25.74 | $37.29 | $23.77 | 60 | 0.19 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $37,910 | $40,220 | $48,380 | $53,540 | $77,570 | $49,440 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $18.55 | $20.77 | $22.82 | $26.72 | $28.48 | $23.59 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $38,580 | $43,200 | $47,470 | $55,570 | $59,240 | $49,080 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.72 | $19.80 | $22.67 | $27.52 | $33.91 | $24.05 | 2,320 | 0.13 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $36,870 | $41,190 | $47,150 | $57,250 | $70,540 | $50,030 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $17.67 | $20.05 | $22.53 | $26.76 | $31.03 | $23.59 | 250 | 0.09 | 0.53 |
| Annual | $36,750 | $41,690 | $46,860 | $55,650 | $64,530 | $49,070 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.47 | $18.58 | $21.99 | $23.49 | $29.54 | $22.33 | 3,780 | 0.39 | 2.42 |
| Annual | $36,340 | $38,650 | $45,740 | $48,870 | $61,440 | $46,440 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.72 | $19.80 | $22.67 | $27.52 | $33.91 | $24.05 | 2,320 | 0.13 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $36,870 | $41,190 | $47,150 | $57,250 | $70,540 | $50,030 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $16.96 | $17.50 | $18.92 | $22.00 | $27.17 | $20.74 | 1,570 | 0.37 | 2.26 |
| Annual | $35,270 | $36,400 | $39,360 | $45,760 | $56,520 | $43,130 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $12.01 | $14.32 | $17.82 | $21.70 | $24.69 | $18.50 | 1,550 | 0.11 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $24,990 | $29,780 | $37,060 | $45,140 | $51,350 | $38,480 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $13.36 | $14.63 | $17.66 | $21.00 | $23.28 | $17.92 | 1,230 | 0.20 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $27,790 | $30,420 | $36,720 | $43,680 | $48,420 | $37,270 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $18.73 | $19.89 | $25.87 | $31.63 | $38.72 | $26.32 | 210 | 0.09 | 0.54 |
| Annual | $38,960 | $41,370 | $53,810 | $65,790 | $80,530 | $54,740 | ||||
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | Hourly | $19.00 | $22.04 | $25.64 | $28.76 | $32.66 | $25.92 | 40 | 0.10 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $39,530 | $45,840 | $53,320 | $59,810 | $67,940 | $53,910 | ||||
| Salem, OR | Hourly | $18.72 | $21.92 | $24.36 | $27.03 | $27.03 | $23.78 | 30 | 0.17 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $38,930 | $45,590 | $50,670 | $56,220 | $56,220 | $49,470 | ||||
| Anchorage, AK | Hourly | $11.94 | $13.17 | $24.15 | $31.79 | $33.32 | $22.97 | 40 | 0.23 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $24,830 | $27,390 | $50,230 | $66,130 | $69,300 | $47,770 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.90 | $19.21 | $23.23 | $25.34 | $31.69 | $23.88 | 850 | 0.14 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $37,240 | $39,950 | $48,310 | $52,710 | $65,920 | $49,660 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $17.50 | $18.48 | $22.00 | $23.72 | $29.76 | $22.53 | 3,630 | 0.38 | 2.37 |
| Annual | $36,400 | $38,450 | $45,750 | $49,340 | $61,890 | $46,850 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $16.75 | $19.19 | $21.33 | $23.09 | $29.01 | $21.97 | 850 | 0.19 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $34,840 | $39,910 | $44,370 | $48,030 | $60,350 | $45,690 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.90 | $19.21 | $23.23 | $25.34 | $31.69 | $23.88 | 850 | 0.14 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $37,240 | $39,950 | $48,310 | $52,710 | $65,920 | $49,660 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $15.40 | $16.95 | $17.89 | $21.91 | $24.85 | $19.47 | 700 | 0.24 | 1.49 |
| Annual | $32,030 | $35,250 | $37,210 | $45,570 | $51,690 | $40,510 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $14.95 | $17.00 | $18.57 | $22.84 | $24.00 | $19.70 | 680 | 0.24 | 1.45 |
| Annual | $31,090 | $35,360 | $38,620 | $47,500 | $49,910 | $40,980 | ||||
Top industries employing office machine operators, except computer
Business Support Services employ 16.7% of office machine operators, except computer nationally (4,190 jobs) at a median $40,320 a year ($19.38 an hour), followed by Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (8.8%) and Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (8.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Support Services NAICS 561400 | 4,190 | 16.7% | $40,320 | $19.38 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services NAICS 518200 | 2,200 | 8.8% | $35,860 | $17.24 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423400 | 2,140 | 8.5% | $40,960 | $19.69 |
| Legal Services NAICS 541100 | 1,010 | 4.0% | $41,190 | $19.80 |
| Office Administrative Services NAICS 561100 | 970 | 3.9% | $37,680 | $18.11 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (25,130). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $36,630 for office machine operators, except computer in May 2021 and $40,960 in May 2025, with employment of 32,920 and 25,130.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $36,630 | $17.61 | 32,920 |
| May 2022 | $36,710 | $17.65 | 30,410 |
| May 2023 | $37,450 | $18.01 | 27,960 |
| May 2024 | $39,020 | $18.76 | 24,740 |
| May 2025 | $40,960 | $19.69 | 25,130 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
47 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska profile | $26.93 | $56,010 | $24,830 | $96,390 | 70 | 0.21 | 1.30 |
| 2 | Vermont profile | $23.26 | $48,380 | $37,910 | $77,570 | 60 | 0.19 | 1.14 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $22.82 | $47,470 | $38,580 | $59,240 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | California profile | $22.67 | $47,150 | $36,870 | $70,540 | 2,320 | 0.13 | 0.79 |
| 5 | Colorado profile | $22.53 | $46,860 | $36,750 | $64,530 | 250 | 0.09 | 0.53 |
| 6 | Washington profile | $22.25 | $46,290 | $39,070 | $63,480 | 340 | 0.10 | 0.59 |
| 7 | Minnesota profile | $22.06 | $45,890 | $34,900 | $58,440 | 630 | 0.21 | 1.32 |
| 8 | New York profile | $21.99 | $45,740 | $36,340 | $61,440 | 3,780 | 0.39 | 2.42 |
| 9 | Rhode Island profile | $21.91 | $45,560 | $31,200 | $71,100 | 70 | 0.13 | 0.81 |
| 10 | Nevada profile | $21.79 | $45,330 | $38,100 | $67,140 | 70 | 0.05 | 0.29 |
| 11 | Maine profile | $21.75 | $45,240 | $37,330 | $56,430 | 60 | 0.10 | 0.62 |
| 12 | North Carolina profile | $21.39 | $44,480 | $31,200 | $49,680 | 930 | 0.19 | 1.16 |
| 13 | Illinois profile | $21.33 | $44,360 | $34,440 | $59,990 | 1,150 | 0.19 | 1.17 |
| 14 | Montana profile | $21.28 | $44,260 | $23,560 | $56,550 | 120 | 0.24 | 1.48 |
| 15 | West Virginia profile | $20.74 | $43,140 | $36,660 | $59,400 | 80 | 0.12 | 0.75 |
| 16 | Oregon profile | $20.63 | $42,910 | $36,060 | $55,610 | 370 | 0.19 | 1.17 |
| 17 | Virginia profile | $20.16 | $41,920 | $28,550 | $61,210 | 530 | 0.13 | 0.80 |
| 18 | District of Columbia profile | $19.93 | $41,460 | $39,250 | $70,690 | 170 | 0.25 | 1.53 |
| 19 | Iowa profile | $19.87 | $41,330 | $33,750 | $63,190 | 250 | 0.16 | 0.99 |
| 20 | Tennessee profile | $19.59 | $40,740 | $29,850 | $57,320 | 230 | 0.07 | 0.43 |
| 21 | Wisconsin profile | $19.18 | $39,890 | $36,380 | $58,370 | 550 | 0.19 | 1.15 |
| 22 | New Jersey profile | $18.92 | $39,360 | $35,270 | $56,520 | 1,570 | 0.37 | 2.26 |
| 23 | Delaware profile | $18.85 | $39,200 | $31,760 | $53,240 | 110 | 0.23 | 1.42 |
| 24 | Kansas profile | $18.78 | $39,050 | $27,790 | $51,110 | 310 | 0.21 | 1.32 |
| 25 | Nebraska profile | $18.66 | $38,820 | $31,750 | $44,120 | 100 | 0.10 | 0.59 |
| 26 | Kentucky profile | $18.58 | $38,640 | $30,930 | $48,060 | 200 | 0.10 | 0.61 |
| 27 | Ohio profile | $18.45 | $38,380 | $23,290 | $51,180 | 750 | 0.14 | 0.84 |
| 28 | Florida profile | $18.43 | $38,330 | $32,760 | $50,600 | 560 | 0.06 | 0.35 |
| 29 | Hawaii profile | $18.35 | $38,170 | $36,100 | $57,410 | 130 | 0.21 | 1.27 |
| 30 | Indiana profile | $18.20 | $37,860 | $30,430 | $56,980 | 600 | 0.19 | 1.15 |
| 31 | Connecticut profile | $18.17 | $37,790 | $34,210 | $59,810 | ** | ** | ** |
| 32 | Missouri profile | $18.16 | $37,760 | $31,110 | $49,270 | 880 | 0.30 | 1.86 |
| 33 | Wyoming profile | $18.02 | $37,470 | $17,860 | $52,960 | 90 | 0.34 | 2.08 |
| 34 | Texas profile | $17.82 | $37,060 | $24,990 | $51,350 | 1,550 | 0.11 | 0.68 |
| 35 | Louisiana profile | $17.77 | $36,960 | $20,800 | $49,980 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.22 |
| 36 | Michigan profile | $17.73 | $36,880 | $30,150 | $50,530 | 370 | 0.08 | 0.52 |
| 37 | Georgia profile | $17.66 | $36,730 | $31,820 | $51,690 | 1,020 | 0.21 | 1.29 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania profile | $17.66 | $36,720 | $27,790 | $48,420 | 1,230 | 0.20 | 1.26 |
| 39 | Arkansas profile | $17.56 | $36,520 | $31,080 | $43,300 | 190 | 0.15 | 0.90 |
| 40 | Utah profile | $17.48 | $36,360 | $24,850 | $62,830 | 240 | 0.14 | 0.84 |
| 41 | Maryland profile | $17.15 | $35,670 | $32,440 | $55,600 | 580 | 0.21 | 1.30 |
| 42 | New Mexico profile | $16.89 | $35,140 | $29,120 | $67,730 | 160 | 0.19 | 1.16 |
| 43 | Oklahoma profile | $16.73 | $34,810 | $26,350 | $48,310 | 290 | 0.17 | 1.06 |
| 44 | Mississippi profile | $16.65 | $34,640 | $28,580 | $44,810 | 90 | 0.07 | 0.46 |
| 45 | South Carolina profile | $16.28 | $33,870 | $20,010 | $45,250 | 190 | 0.08 | 0.52 |
| 46 | New Hampshire profile | $15.67 | $32,590 | $30,700 | $47,300 | 230 | 0.34 | 2.12 |
| 47 | Arizona profile | $15.41 | $32,060 | $31,970 | $46,240 | 650 | 0.20 | 1.24 |
Part of Office and Administrative Support Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 43-9071 Office Machine Operators, Except Computer.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 43-9071, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 43-9071.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.