Occupation salary profile

Print Binding and Finishing Workers

SOC 51-5113 BLS OEWS May 2025

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

National median · BLS
$42,290
▲ +6.2% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$44,460
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
33,180
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Print Binding and Finishing Workers

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$32,220
25th$36,910
Median (50th)$42,290
75th$49,130
90th — top pay$59,150

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Print Binding and Finishing Workers

BLS projects employment of print binding and finishing workers to decline 17.5% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%. About 2,300 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
32,300 → 26,600
-5,600 jobs
Projected change
-17.5%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
2,300
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-declining jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Print Binding and Finishing Workers

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Operations Monitoring3.4
  • Critical Thinking3.3
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.1
  • Monitoring3.1
  • Reading Comprehension3.1
  • Complex Problem Solving3.0
  • Quality Control Analysis3.0
  • Speaking3.0
  • Active Listening2.9
  • Coordination2.9
Top knowledge areas
  • Administration and Management3.5
  • Production and Processing3.4
  • Mechanical3.2
  • Customer and Personal Service3.1
  • English Language2.9
  • Mathematics2.9
  • Administrative2.8
  • Education and Training2.7
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordEmail softwareHouchen Bindery Library Automated Retrieval System LARSLabel printing softwareMicrosoft PublisherTrade Bindery Software Bindery Estimating SystemTrade Bindery Software Bindery Management SystemWeb browser software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What print binding and finishing workers do

  • 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.
Also called
Binder OperatorBindery OperatorBindery WorkerBook BinderBindery TechnicianCustom BookbinderPerfect Binder Operator
More job titles for this occupation (61)
BanderBinderBindery AssociateBindery CutterBindery Cutter OperatorBindery Folder OperatorBindery Machine OperatorBindery Machine Set-Up OperatorBindery Machine SetterBindery Machine TenderBindery SpecialistBook CovererBook CutterBook FinisherBook MenderBook RepairerBook SewerBook Sewing Machine OperatorBookbinderBookbinding Machine OperatorBookmakerBooks BinderCase Binder OperatorCaserCasing in Line SetterCollating Machine OperatorCopy and Print AssociateCovering Machine OperatorCutterFinisherFinishing Machine OperatorFinishing OperatorFoil Stamp OperatorFolder Gluer OperatorFolder OperatorFolding Machine OperatorFolding Machine SetterGathering Machine SetterHand Bindery Assembly WorkerKnife OperatorLiner OperatorMachine OperatorMagazine RepairerPaperback Machine OperatorPerfect Binder SetterPrint Binding and Finishing WorkerPrint Binding WorkerPrint Finishing WorkerRounding and Backing Machine OperatorSaddle and Side Wire StitcherSaddle Stitch OperatorSaddle Stitcher OperatorSaddle Stitching Machine OperatorSide Stitching Machine OperatorSmall Machine Bindery OperatorSpiral BinderSpiral Binder OperatorStitcher OperatorStitching Machine OperatorStitching Machine SetterTinning Machine Set-Up Operator

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.