Print Binding and Finishing Workers
Arts, Audio/Video Technology and CommunicationsO*NET 51-5113.00United States
Bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine. May set up binding and finishing machines.
- Median annual earnings
- $42,286
- Projected change
- −13.7%
- Typical education
- High school diploma or less
- Employment
- 32.27K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
92.3% of the workforce
Growing to 27.84K by 2035
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These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What print binding and finishing workers do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Examine stitched, collated, bound, or unbound product samples for defects, such as imperfect bindings, ink spots, torn pages, loose pages, or loose or uncut threads.
- Read work orders to determine instructions and specifications for machine set-up.
- Stitch or glue endpapers, bindings, backings, or signatures, using sewing machines, glue machines, or glue and brushes.
- Trim edges of books to size, using cutting machines, book trimming machines, or hand cutters.
- Install or adjust bindery machine devices, such as knives, guides, rollers, rounding forms, creasing rams, or clamps, to accommodate sheets, signatures, or books of specified sizes.
- Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions or to determine whether adjustments are needed.
- Lubricate, clean, or make minor repairs to machine parts to keep machines in working condition.
- Maintain records, such as daily production records, using specified forms.
- Set up or operate bindery machines, such as coil binders, thermal or tape binders, plastic comb binders, or specialty binders.
- Set up or operate machines that perform binding operations, such as pressing, folding, or trimming.
- Prepare finished books for shipping by wrapping or packing books and stacking boxes on pallets.
- Set up or operate glue machines by filling glue reservoirs, turning switches to activate heating elements, or adjusting glue flow or conveyor speed.
- Train workers to set up, operate, and use automatic bindery machines.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $32,219
- 25th percentile
- $36,920
- 50th percentile
- $42,286
- 75th percentile
- $49,130
- 90th percentile
- $59,155
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $42,286 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
−13.7%projected to decline
202532,267 jobs
2035 projected27,838 jobs
4,429 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- High school diploma or less
- 92.3%
- Certificate
- 3.8%
- Associate degree
- 2.8%
- Some college
- 1.2%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Equipment Maintenance
- Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Set Up Operators595 postings
- 02Press Operators515 postings
- 03Bindery Operators256 postings
- 04Finishing Operators219 postings
- 05Operators215 postings
- 06Finishing Supervisors114 postings
- 07Flexographic Press Operators110 postings
- 08Folder Gluer Operators110 postings
- 09Die Cutter Operators109 postings
- 10Bindery Machine Operators87 postings
- 11Offset Press Operators84 postings
- 12Print Operators70 postings
- 13Press Brake Set Up Operators68 postings
- 14Finishing Machine Operators66 postings
- 15Punch Press Operators64 postings
- 16Equipment Operators62 postings
- 17Cutting Machine Operators58 postings
- 18Binder Operators48 postings
- 19Press Brake Operators47 postings
- 20Folder Operators45 postings
Top employers
- 01Aerotek165 postings
- 02Mcc81 postings
- 03Schaeffler Group77 postings
- 04R.R. Donnelley & Sons71 postings
- 05Smurfit Westrock71 postings
- 06Graphic Packaging International63 postings
- 07Resource Label Group60 postings
- 08Quad-C Management45 postings
- 09Spherion Staffing40 postings
- 10Pregis37 postings
- 11ManpowerGroup34 postings
- 12Nahan Printing33 postings
- 13Wellborn Cabinet33 postings
- 14Data-Mail32 postings
- 15Pratt Industries30 postings
- 16Sheridan29 postings
- 17Packaging Corporation of America28 postings
- 18Staffmark28 postings
- 19Adecco25 postings
- 20Express Employment Professionals25 postings
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