Bindery Worker Job Description, Career as a Bindery Worker, Salary, Employment

Training/Educational Requirements: High school diploma

Median Salary: $13.99 per hour

Job Prospects: Good

Job Description

A bindery worker sets up and operates binding machines. These machines are used to produce books and other printed materials or publications. The work is commonly done through machines the bindery worker must operate and supervise. In some instances, however, the binding work is actually done by hand.

A bindery worker oversees various pieces of equipment involved in the binding process. Some equipment can punch holes in sheets of paper; crease pages; or affix pages to the cover. There are machines that fasten sheets of paper together, and others that bind the papers together. All of these machines are operated by the bindery worker and are involved in the binding process.

Bindery workers typically work as part of a team in a warehouse and are involved in maintaining several steps of the process. They operate the machines or put the documents in or take them out as required. Since some of the binding work is done manually, they may perform responsibilities such as stapling, collating, and creasing by hand when necessary. To be effective, they need to be able to keep up with daily operations and demonstrate an aptitude for running the required machines. They must be able to keep on task, maintain the machines, and work efficiently.

Bindery workers are also responsible for an entire workstation from set up to clean up, and everything in between. If there is a breakdown in the process, like that of an assembly line, it can slow down the entire production of the binding material. Therefore, it is necessary for each bindery worker to take ownership over their machine or process, keep things running, and meet established deadlines.

Training/Educational Requirements

There usually isn’t any specific educational requirements associated with a position as a bindery worker. Although a high school diploma is often preferred, it is not required. This is often an entry-level position in nature and therefore educational background is not pertinent.

Depending on the nature of the position itself, bindery workers may be hired on a temporary basis. They may work through a contract company, fulfilling requirements for hiring companies along the way. In this instance, having previous experience as a bindery worker can come in handy. Most training is offered on-the-job where bindery workers learn to run a variety of machines.

How to Get Hired

The best way to get hired as a bindery worker is to have previous experience. If an individual has experience within a specific area or working on a specific machine, that helps their chances of getting hired. Since many positions in this field are offered on a contract basis, it can help to work through a contract agency that specializes in this type of manual or entry-level work.

There are some corporations or publishing companies that hire bindery workers as part of the staff. In this instance, experience will go a long way with getting hired into a full-time position. Understanding how the binding process works or how to run certain machines can be an excellent way to get the foot in the door of a company that requires bindery workers on a regular basis.

Job Prospects, Employment Outlook, and Career Development

There is very good prospect for growth in this line of work. There is always a need for bindery workers because most are entry-level type positions. Since many companies outsources this function to a contract company or employment service company, it opens the door to more opportunities. This means the hiring company won’t incur overhead costs, which in turn increases the potential to hire bindery workers.

There has been an increase in the need for bindery workers in recent years, and this appears to be a trend. For those individuals who have experience, they have a better chance of getting hired into a working or supervisory role.

Working Environment

The typical working environment for a bindery worker is in a warehouse where most of the bindery machines are part of a production line. Most of the time, bindery workers are a part of a production team that works together to ensure the publication is put together properly. It’s imperative for bindery workers to have the ability to work well in a group environment.

The environment is usually noisy due to the machines running constantly, so hearing others speak can be difficult at times. Even if a bindery worker is a full-time member of the staff, they usually work in a warehouse setting where the machines are located. If they are involved in some of the manual processes, they may be situated in a separate room to perform this task at a table.

Salary and Benefits

The median salary for a bindery worker is typically about $13.99 per hour. In many instances, bindery workers can make as little as $8.42 per hour or up to as much as $21.31 per hour depending on their experience. The environment and geographical location of the facility has a lot to do with the pay scale. At the high end of the pay scale, bindery workers will be involved in a supervisory role or running specific machines that require more skill. If a bindery worker is hired on a contract basis, they do not receive benefits. If they are hired as a full-time staff member, they can expect to get paid vacation and medical coverage.