What Does it Take to Be a Print Binding and Finishing Worker?

Job Description & Duties Bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine. May set up binding and finishing machines.

Life As a Print Binding and Finishing Worker: What Do They Do?

• Maintain records, such as daily production records, using specified forms.
• Cut cover material to specified dimensions, fitting and gluing material to binder boards by hand or machine.
• Set up or operate bindery machines, such as coil binders, thermal or tape binders, plastic comb binders, or specialty binders.
• Apply color to edges of signatures using brushes, pads, or atomizers.
• Form book bodies by folding and sewing printed sheets to form signatures and assembling signatures in numerical order.
• Train workers to set up, operate, and use automatic bindery machines.

Print Binding and Finishing Worker Skills

Below is a list of the skills most Print Binding and Finishing Workers say are important on the job.

Operation 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.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Types of Print Binding and Finishing Worker

• Book Sewing Machine Operator
• Print Finishing Worker
• Bindery Operator
• Head Bander and Liner Operator
• Print Binding Worker

What Kind of Print Binding and Finishing Worker Job Opportunities Are There?

In the United States, there were 54,000 jobs for Print Binding and Finishing Worker in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Print Binding and Finishing Worker. The BLS estimates 6,000 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Print Binding and Finishing Worker are Idaho, Nevada, and Rhode Island. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, New York, or New Mexico. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Print Binding and Finishing Worker Salary

The salary for Print Binding and Finishing Workers ranges between about $21,890 and $50,910 a year.

Print Binding and Finishing Workers who work in District of Columbia, Delaware, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Print Binding and Finishing Workers in different U.S. states.

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$34,430
Arizona	$30,710
Arkansas	$32,550
California	$36,190
Colorado	$34,830
Connecticut	$36,080
Delaware	$38,540
District of Columbia	$77,190
Florida	$30,420
Georgia	$34,530
Hawaii	$39,880
Idaho	$33,560
Illinois	$36,440
Indiana	$36,130
Iowa	$36,000
Kansas	$29,140
Kentucky	$37,010
Louisiana	$33,240
Maine	$33,810
Maryland	$35,510
Massachusetts	$35,470
Michigan	$34,020
Minnesota	$36,640
Mississippi	$43,040
Missouri	$35,500
Montana	$29,370
Nebraska	$31,500
Nevada	$34,570
New Hampshire	$34,190
New Jersey	$35,510
New York	$35,750
North Carolina	$29,430
North Dakota	$34,330
Ohio	$31,420
Oklahoma	$28,310
Oregon	$34,700
Pennsylvania	$33,270
South Carolina	$35,330
South Dakota	$34,280
Tennessee	$34,070
Texas	$35,950
Utah	$31,200
Vermont	$38,130
Virginia	$37,530
Washington	$38,760
West Virginia	$33,730
Wisconsin	$33,390

What Tools & Technology do Print Binding and Finishing Workers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Print Binding and Finishing Workers:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Data entry software
• Email software
• Microsoft Publisher
• Label printing software

How to Become a Print Binding and Finishing Worker

Individuals working as a Print Binding and Finishing Worker have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Print Binding and Finishing Workers Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

You May Also Be Interested In…

Career changers with experience as a Print Binding and Finishing Worker sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

• Precious Metal Workers
• Carpet Installers
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: via

More about our data sources and methodologies.