Print Binding and Finishing Workers

SOC code 51-5113 · O*NET-SOC 51-5113.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production

Print Binding and Finishing Workers pay

U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number

Median pay

$42,290

a year

Hourly

$20.33

per hour

10th$32,220Median$42,29090th$59,150

The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.

Average pay

$44,460

$21.38 per hour

Middle 50%

$36,910 – $49,130

25th to 75th percentile

Full spread

$32,220 – $59,150

10th to 90th percentile

People employed

33,180

nationwide

National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.

10th percentile: $32,220; $15.49/hr
25th percentile: $36,910; $17.75/hr
Median percentile: $42,290; $20.33/hr
75th percentile: $49,130; $23.62/hr
90th percentile: $59,150; $28.44/hr

What do print binding and finishing workers do?

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

The tasks that matter most day to day

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.
Insert book bodies in devices that form back edges of books into convex shapes and produce grooves that facilitate cover attachment.
Maintain records, such as daily production records, using specified forms.

How to qualify for this work

Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 88% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.

Preparation level: zone 2 — 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.
Training: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

See all zone 2 occupations →

Education reported by people doing this job

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)88%
Less than a High School Diploma4%
Post-Secondary Certificate4%
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree3%

Common questions

How much does a print binding and finishing workers earn?

The national median is $42,290 a year. The full range runs from $32,220 at the 10th percentile to $59,150 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.

Can you become a print binding and finishing workers without a degree?

Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.

Skills and knowledge you need

Core skills

Critical Thinking3.3/5
Reading Comprehension3.1/5
Monitoring3.1/5
Speaking3.0/5
Active Listening2.9/5

Knowledge areas

Administration and Management3.5/5
Production and Processing3.4/5
Mechanical3.2/5
Customer and Personal Service3.1/5
Mathematics2.9/5
English Language2.9/5
Administrative2.8/5
Education and Training2.7/5

Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis, Coordination.