Office & Administrative Support
Office Machine Operators, Except Computer
Also called: Copy Center Operator, Copy Machine Operator, Copy Technician, Graphics Production Specialist
US median pay
$40,960
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-14.9%
declining
Openings a year (US)
2,100
25,800 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Operate one or more of a variety of office machines, such as photocopying, photographic, and duplicating machines, or other office machines.
What they do day to day
- Read job orders to determine the type of work to be done, the quantities to be produced, and the materials needed.
- Deliver completed work.
- Place original copies in feed trays, feed originals into feed rolls, or position originals on tables beneath camera lenses.
- Sort, assemble, and proof completed work.
- Operate office machines such as high speed business photocopiers, readers, scanners, addressing machines, stencil-cutting machines, microfilm readers or printers, folding and inserting machines, bursters, and binder machines.
- Complete records of production, including work volumes and outputs, materials used, and any backlogs.
- Compute prices for services and receive payment, or provide supervisors with billing information.
- Set up and adjust machines, regulating factors such as speed, ink flow, focus, and number of copies.
- Load machines with materials such as blank paper or film.
- Monitor machine operation, and make adjustments as necessary to ensure proper operation.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operation and Control3.2/5
- Operations Monitoring3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.9/5
- Troubleshooting2.8/5
- Service Orientation2.8/5
Knowledge
- English Language3.9/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
- Production and Processing3.4/5
- Computers and Electronics3.0/5
- Mathematics2.9/5
- Administrative2.7/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma68%
- Bachelor's degree17%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.