Vending machine operator
Also known as: vending route operator, coin-operated personal service machine operator, photo booth operator, vending machine supervisor, weighing machine operator, coin-operated locker operator
About this occupation
Vending machine operators remove cash, conduct visual inspections of the machine, provide basic maintenance and refill goods sold for vending and other coin-operated machines.
Essential skills and knowledge
- ensure public safety and security
- company policies
- carry out stock rotation
- maintain operations of vending machines
- food hygiene rules
- adjust temperature gauges
- geographical routes
- keep task records
- change shelf labels
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers (O*NET 49-9091.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Fill machines with products, ingredients, money, and other supplies.
- Inspect machines and meters to determine causes of malfunctions and fix minor problems such as jammed bills or stuck products.
- Test machines to determine proper functioning.
- Replace malfunctioning parts, such as worn magnetic heads on automatic teller machine (ATM) card readers.
- Maintain records of machine maintenance and repair.
- Clean and oil machine parts.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Enterprising
Top skills: Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis
US median pay: US$47,450 a year (2025), 26,410 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (4.0)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalVery important (3.5)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers
- Watch and Clock Repairers
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Office Machine Operators, Except Computer
- Home Appliance Repairers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.