Production
Print Binding and Finishing Workers
Also called: Binder Operator, Bindery Operator, Bindery Technician, Bindery Worker
US median pay
$42,290
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-17.5%
declining
Openings a year (US)
2,300
32,300 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine. May set up binding and finishing machines.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- 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.
- Trim edges of books to size, using cutting machines, book trimming machines, or hand cutters.
- Stitch or glue endpapers, bindings, backings, or signatures, using sewing machines, glue machines, or glue and brushes.
- Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions or to determine whether adjustments are needed.
- Maintain records, such as daily production records, using specified forms.
- Lubricate, clean, or make minor repairs to machine parts to keep machines in working condition.
- 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.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring3.4/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
- Time Management2.9/5
- Repairing2.9/5
- Operation and Control2.9/5
- Instructing2.9/5
Knowledge
- Administration and Management3.5/5
- Production and Processing3.4/5
- Mechanical3.2/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.1/5
- Mathematics2.9/5
- English Language2.9/5
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 diploma88%
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.