Print Binding and Finishing Workers
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
Bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine. May set up binding and finishing machines.
Median pay: $42,290/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: -16.1% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.
About 2,800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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's the median pay for Print Binding and Finishing Workers?
The median pay for Print Binding and Finishing Workers is $42,290 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Print Binding and Finishing Workers?
Employment for Print Binding and Finishing Workers is projected to change -16.1% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.
What education is typically required for Print Binding and Finishing Workers?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Print Binding and Finishing Workers?
About 2,800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.