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Print Binding and Finishing Workers: Career Profile
Bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine. May set up binding and finishing machines.
The Daily Work of Print Binding and Finishing Workers Perform?
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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top print binding and finishing workers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Bander
- Binder
- Binder Operator
- Bindery Associate
- Bindery Cutter
- Bindery Cutter Operator
- Bindery Folder Operator
- Bindery Machine Operator
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 368,048 print binding and finishing workers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +0.5% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Print Binding and Finishing Workers Make?
| 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 |
Pay can vary substantially 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 |
Where Print Binding and Finishing Workers Earn the Most
Pay for print binding and finishing workers differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| 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 |
Top Metro Areas
| 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 |
Which Industries Hire Print Binding and Finishing Workers
The largest employers of print binding and finishing workers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| 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 |
Print Binding and Finishing Workers work in the following industries:
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
The on-the-job environment of print binding and finishing workers reflects 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), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
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)
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- 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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