# Print Binding and Finishing Workers

> Bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine. May set up binding and finishing machines.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 51-5113.00
- **Summary:** Bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine. May set up binding and finishing machines.

## Aliases

- Binder Operator
- Bindery Operator
- Bindery Worker
- Book Binder
- Bindery Technician
- Custom Bookbinder
- Perfect Binder Operator
- Bander
- Binder
- Bindery Associate
- Bindery Cutter
- Bindery Cutter Operator

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Read work orders to determine instructions and specifications for machine set-up. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| 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. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.f |
| Stitch or glue endpapers, bindings, backings, or signatures, using sewing machines, glue machines, or glue and brushes. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.e |
| Trim edges of books to size, using cutting machines, book trimming machines, or hand cutters. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.l |
| Insert book bodies in devices that form back edges of books into convex shapes and produce grooves that facilitate cover attachment. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.f |
| Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions or to determine whether adjustments are needed. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Maintain records, such as daily production records, using specified forms. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Lubricate, clean, or make minor repairs to machine parts to keep machines in working condition. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Set up or operate bindery machines, such as coil binders, thermal or tape binders, plastic comb binders, or specialty binders. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Set up or operate machines that perform binding operations, such as pressing, folding, or trimming. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Cut cover material to specified dimensions, fitting and gluing material to binder boards by hand or machine. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.l |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Operate equipment to print images or bind printed images together. | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing. | 4.A.3.a.2.l |
| Sew clothing or other articles. | 4.A.3.a.2.e |
| Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.f |
| Record operational or production data. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Confer with customers or designers to determine order specifications. | 4.A.4.a.2.j |
| Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Engrave designs, text, or other markings onto materials, workpieces, or products. | 4.A.3.a.2.y |
| Drill holes in parts, equipment, or materials. | 4.A.3.a.2.ad |
| Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements. | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Load materials into production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Operate sewing equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.e |
| Trim excess material from workpieces. | 4.A.3.a.2.l |
| Inspected printed materials or other images to verify quality. | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.f |
| Clean production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Repair production equipment or tools. | 4.A.3.b.4.c |
| Lubricate production equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Stack finished items for further processing or shipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Package products for storage or shipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.ap |
| Instruct workers to use equipment or perform technical procedures. | 4.A.4.b.3.e |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Administration and Management | knowledge | 3.51 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.5 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 3.5 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.5 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 3.38 |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 3.38 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.38 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3.38 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.38 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.38 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.25 |
| Visualization | ability | 3.25 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.25 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 3.24 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3.12 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3.12 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.12 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.12 |
| Trunk Strength | ability | 3.12 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.12 |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 3.08 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 3 |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 2.9 |
| English Language | knowledge | 2.9 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 2.88 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Instructing | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Equipment Maintenance | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Repairing | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Written Expression | ability | 2.88 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Publisher | Specialized Skill |
| Email Software | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Accounting Software | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| Email software | Electronic mail software | no | no |
| Houchen Bindery Library Automated Retrieval System LARS | Library software | no | no |
| Label printing software | Label making software | no | no |
| Microsoft Publisher | Desktop publishing software | no | no |
| Trade Bindery Software Bindery Estimating System | Accounting software | no | no |
| Trade Bindery Software Bindery Management System | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | no | no |
| Web browser software | Internet browser software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Spend Time Standing | 4.71 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.7 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.55 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.31 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.29 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.28 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 4.19 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 3.95 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 3.93 |
| Time Pressure | 3.87 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.76 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 3.71 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 3.71 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.6 |
| Contact With Others | 3.57 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 3.57 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 3.55 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.46 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.42 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.41 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.29 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 3.25 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.21 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.09 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 2.96 |
| Degree of Automation | 2.7 |
| Level of Competition | 2.68 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 2.57 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 2.51 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 2.47 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 2.44 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.28 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.23 |
| Telephone Conversations | 1.98 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 1.87 |
| Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling | 1.77 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 1.72 |
| E-Mail | 1.57 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 1.54 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 87.93 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 4.35 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 3.79 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.78 |
| Some College Courses | 1.16 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 5.49 |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 5.44 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 4.08 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 2.86 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 2.77 |
| Dependability | work_style | 2.16 |
| Artistic | career_interest_type | 2.05 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 1.79 |
| Construction/Woodwork | specific_interest_area | 1.7 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 1.67 |
| Management/Administration | specific_interest_area | 1.56 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 1.56 |
| Applied Arts and Design | specific_interest_area | 1.49 |
| Social | career_interest_type | 1.47 |
| Visual Arts | specific_interest_area | 1.42 |
| Office Work | specific_interest_area | 1.31 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 51-9196.00 | role-51-9196-00 | Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-9032.00 | role-51-9032-00 | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-9191.00 | role-51-9191-00 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-6031.00 | role-51-6031-00 | Sewing Machine Operators | Primary-Short |
| 51-6062.00 | role-51-6062-00 | Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 53-7063.00 | role-53-7063-00 | Machine Feeders and Offbearers | Primary-Long |
| 51-5112.00 | role-51-5112-00 | Printing Press Operators | Primary-Long |
| 51-4033.00 | role-51-4033-00 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Long |
| 51-7042.00 | role-51-7042-00 | Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | Primary-Long |
| 51-4031.00 | role-51-4031-00 | Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Long |
| 51-6042.00 | role-51-6042-00 | Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders | Supplemental |
| 51-4081.00 | role-51-4081-00 | Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Advanced Manufacturing | advanced-manufacturing |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs


## Market

- **Median Wage:** 39820
- **Mean Wage:** 43040
- **Pct10Wage:** 31110
- **Pct25Wage:** 36070
- **Pct75Wage:** 48240
- **Pct90Wage:** 57980
- **Employment:** 36470
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 31820 | 40630 | 10.54 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 1540 | 35280 | 0.72 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 1460 | 34480 | 2.33 |
| 51 | 51 | Information | Sector | 1030 | 38390 | 1.5 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 1020 | 36940 | 0.4 |
| 513110 | 513110 | Newspaper Publishers | National industry | 260 | 32040 | 12.13 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 150 | 43670 | 0.05 |
| 62 | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Sector | 150 | 38530 | 0.03 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 100 | 38580 | 0.07 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 60 | 39790 |  |
| 52 | 52 | Finance and Insurance | Sector | 50 | 35420 |  |
| 44-45 | 44-45 | Retail Trade | Sector |  | 30680 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 513110 | 513110 | Newspaper Publishers | National industry | 260 | 12.13 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 31820 | 10.54 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 1460 | 2.33 |
| 51 | 51 | Information | Sector | 1030 | 1.5 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 1540 | 0.72 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 1020 | 0.4 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 100 | 0.07 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 150 | 0.05 |
- **Count:** 12

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.95 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.9062089 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -0.7243609 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.9139293 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 15
- **Percentile:** 12
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 21 | felten_aioe |
| 17 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 8 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.9062089 | 21 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.1282051282051282 | 17 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.04164004807566006 | 8 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.95
- **Percentile:** 89
- **Band:** High
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.05128205128205128
- **Beta:** 0.08974358974358973
- **Gamma:** 0.1282051282051282

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Meet with clients, printers, or designers to discuss job requirements or binding plans. | 0.0017460323981446867 | 4.2 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** -16.1
- **Growth Percentile:** 2
- **Direction:** Declining
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 2.8
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 36
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 35.8
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 30

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 25
- **Skills:** 37
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 11
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 81a2474f64831876