Print Binding and Finishing Workers: Career Overview
Bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine. May set up binding and finishing machines.
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The Daily Work of Print Binding and Finishing Workers Take On?
Typical responsibilities of print binding and finishing workers cover:
- 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.
What Print Binding and Finishing Workers Need to Know
Top print binding and finishing workers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Print Binding and Finishing Workers Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Bander
- Binder
- Binder Operator
- Bindery Associate
- Bindery Cutter
- Bindery Cutter Operator
- Bindery Folder Operator
- Bindery Machine Operator
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 368,048 print binding and finishing workers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +0.5% over the projection horizon.
Print Binding and Finishing Workers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $43,466 |
| Hourly median | $20.90 |
| 10th percentile | $25,667 |
| 25th percentile | $34,567 |
| 75th percentile | $52,366 |
| 90th percentile | $61,266 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Print Binding and Finishing Workers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | $89,880 |
| Delaware | $57,240 |
| Minnesota | $47,700 |
| New Hampshire | $47,320 |
| Illinois | $46,960 |
| Maryland | $46,610 |
| New Jersey | $45,980 |
| Colorado | $45,330 |
| Massachusetts | $44,980 |
| Alaska | $44,830 |
| Washington | $44,580 |
| Oregon | $44,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,720 |
| Maine | $43,720 |
| Virginia | $43,630 |
| California | $42,980 |
| South Carolina | $42,760 |
| New York | $41,740 |
| Vermont | $41,690 |
| North Carolina | $40,340 |
| Wisconsin | $40,190 |
| West Virginia | $40,080 |
| South Dakota | $40,050 |
| Michigan | $40,010 |
| North Dakota | $40,010 |
| Arkansas | $39,430 |
| Iowa | $39,330 |
| Missouri | $39,240 |
| Georgia | $39,010 |
| Ohio | $38,740 |
| Nevada | $38,620 |
| Arizona | $38,590 |
| Utah | $38,330 |
| Montana | $38,210 |
| Kentucky | $38,190 |
| Indiana | $37,910 |
| Hawaii | $37,880 |
| Oklahoma | $37,750 |
| Connecticut | $37,730 |
| Texas | $37,630 |
| Florida | $37,290 |
| Idaho | $37,160 |
| Alabama | $36,470 |
| Kansas | $36,100 |
| Nebraska | $35,800 |
| Tennessee | $35,620 |
| Louisiana | $34,030 |
| New Mexico | $30,990 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,930 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for print binding and finishing workers shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $44,297 | 14.0% | 1.05 |
| New England | $42,716 | 4.7% | 1.11 |
| Far Western US | $42,666 | 7.7% | 0.58 |
| Plains States | $42,370 | 11.4% | 1.96 |
| Great Lakes | $41,379 | 27.1% | 2.52 |
| Rocky Mountains | $40,157 | 3.4% | 1.48 |
| Southeast | $39,435 | 22.1% | 0.97 |
| Southwest | $37,628 | 9.2% | 0.76 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Print Binding and Finishing Workers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | MS | $95,160 | 80 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $51,640 | 660 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $51,080 | 80 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $48,370 | 1,300 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ME | $48,250 | 70 |
| St. Cloud, MN | MN | $48,240 | 70 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | RI | $48,100 | 70 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $47,940 | 2,030 |
Top Industries Employing Print Binding and Finishing Workers
The bulk of print binding and finishing workers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 31,820 | $40,630 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,540 | $35,280 |
| Information | 1,030 | $38,390 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,020 | $36,940 |
| Educational Services | 150 | $43,670 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 150 | $38,530 |
| Wholesale Trade | 100 | $38,580 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 60 | $39,790 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for print binding and finishing workers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Spend Time Standing
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
Getting Started in This Career
Typical print binding and finishing workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Printing Press Operators (Primary-Long)
- Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials (Supplemental)
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-5113.00 (Print Binding and Finishing Workers).
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