94152 – Binding and finishing machine operators

Lead statement

Binding and finishing machine operators set up, operate or oversee the operation of machines, equipment or computerized units that bind and finish printed material. Workers who perform finishing operations in the paper, carton and packaging industries, as well as those who encode and stamp plastic cards, are included in this unit group.

Main duties

• Set up and operate specialized equipment and machines that cut, fold, gather and bind or finish brochures, pamphlets, business forms, magazines, books and other printed material
• Set up and operate specialized equipment and machines that die cut, emboss, imprint, laminate, heat stamp and perform other finishing operations on printed material
• Perform pre-production runs of binding or finishing jobs to verify output and to ensure that product specifications are met
• Operate automatic and semi-automatic equipment and machines to bind or finish print material according to specifications
• Pack, weigh and stack bound and finished products on pallet for shipment
• May repair and rebind damaged or worn books.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a college program in graphic arts technology ora combination of on-the-job training and specialized college, industry or other courses may be required.

Example job titles

binder - printing · bookbinder - printing · binder and finisher · binder and finisher - printing · industrial binder - printing · machine binder - printing · bindery machine operator - printing · bindery worker - printing · machine bookbinder · book-cutting machine operator · book finisher - printing · book-sewing machine operator - printing · book trimmer · bookbinding machine operator · bronzing machine tender - printing · casing-in machine tender - printing · casing-in machine set-up operator - printing · Cerlox binder operator · Cerlox binder operator - printing · gathering machine operator - printing · collating machine operator - printing · continuous glue machine operator - printing · covering machine operator - printing · credit card die-cutter operator - printing · cutter operator - printing · cutting machine operator - printing · design and lettering stamper - printing · die-cutting platen press operator - printing · die-cutting or die-numbering press operator - printing · stamping press operator - printing · embossing press operator - printing · embossing/encoding machine tender - printing · finishing machine operator - printing · foil-stamping platen press operator · folder operator - printing · folding machine operator - printing · machine folder - printing · assistant binder · assistant bookbinder · binder assistant

Wages (per hour)

Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.