How to hire a bindery machine operator

How to hire a bindery machine operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step bindery machine operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a bindery machine operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new bindery machine operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your bindery machine operator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a bindery machine operator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A bindery machine operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, bindery machine operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of bindery machine operators.

   Type of Bindery Machine Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Bindery Machine Operator		$12-18
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25
   Press Operator	A press operator is responsible for the maintenance of printing machines and other equipment to ensure smooth operations while meeting the clients' needs with the highest quality standards. Press operators duties' include performing troubleshooting, replacing defective machine components, upgrading the systems for efficiency, analyzing blueprints and instructional guides, determining product suitability, and inspecting irregularities before and after the use of press machines... Show more	$12-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Quality Checks
   • Repair Machinery
   • Bindery Equipment
   • Collating
   • Machine Operation
   • Stitching
   • Quality Products
   • Safety Policies
   • Transport Product
   • Oiling
   • Stahl
   • Paper Cutters
   • Customer Specifications
   • Troubleshoot

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage mail heads, stackers and print pockets and train crew members on same.
   • operate computerize cutter, encoding and collating machines, prepare materials for shipping
   • Control & troubleshoot automate extrusion line adjusting speed & feed, monitoring temperature, & finish material specification per customers order.
   • Install and adjust bindery machine devices, including rounding forms, clamps, guides, rollers.

   More bindery machine operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your bindery machine operator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A bindery machine operator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, bindery machine operators' average salary in south carolina is 35% less than in minnesota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level bindery machine operators earn 31% less than senior-level bindery machine operators.
   • Certifications. A bindery machine operator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a bindery machine operator's salary.

   Average bindery machine operator salary

   $15.70hourly

   $32,652 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level bindery machine operator salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average bindery machine operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Minnesota	$42,083	$20
   2	Washington	$41,758	$20
   3	Ohio	$34,472	$17
   4	California	$34,398	$17
   5	Michigan	$34,041	$16
   6	Pennsylvania	$32,817	$16
   7	Wisconsin	$32,721	$16
   8	Massachusetts	$32,171	$15
   9	Florida	$32,133	$15
   10	Texas	$30,916	$15
   11	Maryland	$30,451	$15
   12	Indiana	$28,514	$14
   13	Iowa	$28,382	$14
   14	South Carolina	$27,380	$13

   Average bindery machine operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Japs-Olson	$34,113	$16.40
   2	RRD	$34,078	$16.38	106
   3	TDS	$33,719	$16.21
   4	TPI	$33,457	$16.09	8
   5	The Ohio State University	$33,154	$15.94
   6	Kelly Services	$33,028	$15.88	101
   7	Automation Personnel Services	$32,695	$15.72	19
   8	ManpowerGroup	$32,412	$15.58	140
   9	Mittera	$32,172	$15.47	13
   10	The Marcus Corporation	$31,553	$15.17
   11	Sheridan	$31,496	$15.14
   12	Papa John's International	$31,219	$15.01	6
   13	KP Industries, Inc.	$30,893	$14.85	7
   14	The Spokesman-Review	$30,008	$14.43

4. Writing a bindery machine operator job description

   A bindery machine operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a bindery machine operator job description:

   Bindery machine operator job description example

   Are you a mechanically inclined individual, looking to get started in a trade?! Here's your chance! This is a company willing to train from the ground up! Learn every step in the process of how to operate machinery to make and bind books, albums, and magazines. This large company is looking for hard working, dedicated employees, eager to learn. If this sounds like you, they are offering first and second shift opportunities.
   1st Shift: 6am-2: 30pm Monday-Friday
   
   Job Purpose:
   Set up or operate binding machines that produce books and other printed materials.
   
   Essential Duties and/or Responsibilities:
   Read work orders to determine setup specifications and instructions. Examine stitched, collated, bound, and unbound product samples for defects Start machines and make trial runs to verify accuracy of machine setups. Set up, or set up and operate, machines that perform binding operations such as pressing, folding, and trimming on books and related articles. Move controls to adjust and activate bindery machines. Observe and monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions and to determine whether adjustments are needed. Install and adjust bindery machine devices, such as knives, guides, rollers, rounding forms, creasing rams, and clamps, in order to accommodate sheets, signatures, or books of specified sizes, using hand tools. Maintain records of daily production, using specified forms. Fill machine paper feeds. Lubricate and clean machine parts Feed books and related articles such as periodicals and pamphlets into binding machines, following specifications. Remove printed material or finished products from machines or conveyors and stack onto pallets or skids or pack them in boxes. Clean work areas, and maintain equipment and work stations, using hand tools.
   Knowledge and Skills Required:
   Mechanical aptitude Willingness to learn Strong math - conversion of decimals, understanding ruler measurements Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others
   About SITE Staffing, Inc.
   
   With over 25 years of experience, SITE Staffing, Inc. Is the staffing agency of choice for Milwaukee and the surrounding area. Employees trust us because they know we will match them with real opportunities at great organizations. Whether you are looking for a temporary assignment or a permanent position, we are here to help you reach your employment goals.
   
   At SITE Staffing we value diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We have been awarded the “ Five Star Invest in Vets” employer rating by the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber in recognition of our commitment to hiring, training, and retaining veterans, service members, and military spouses. We are an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, and we are the 2019 recipient of the BBB’ s Torch Award for Ethics.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find bindery machine operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any bindery machine operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level bindery machine operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your bindery machine operator job on Zippia to find and recruit bindery machine operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting bindery machine operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new bindery machine operator

   Once you've found the bindery machine operator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new bindery machine operator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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