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The role of a bindery machine operator is essential in the printing industry, responsible for finishing printed materials. As of October 2025, the average salary is approximately $32,652 per year. Factors influencing this figure include geographic location, years of experience, and specific job responsibilities.
Entry-level bindery machine operators typically start at lower wages, while those with several years of experience can earn significantly more. For example, operators with five or more years can see salaries reaching up to $40,000 annually.
States like California and New York often offer higher salaries compared to the national average, making them attractive locations for job seekers. Understanding the salary range in different regions can guide your job search effectively.
With the right skills and experience, bindery machine operators can advance to supervisory and management roles, further increasing their earning potential. Explore job listings to find opportunities that align with your career goals.
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The average bindery machine operator salary in Minnesota, Washington, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average bindery machine operator salary states are New Jersey, Alabama, and Iowa.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $42,051 | $20.22 |
| 2 | Alaska | $39,544 | $19.01 |
| 3 | Maine | $40,680 | $19.56 |
| 4 | Ohio | $34,865 | $16.76 |
| 5 | Illinois | $37,090 | $17.83 |
| 6 | Washington | $42,016 | $20.20 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $35,087 | $16.87 |
| 8 | Oregon | $38,876 | $18.69 |
| 9 | Arizona | $38,556 | $18.54 |
| 10 | Kansas | $35,392 | $17.02 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $34,122 | $16.40 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| 13 | Idaho | $40,427 | $19.44 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $39,103 | $18.80 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $36,531 | $17.56 |
| 16 | Michigan | $33,997 | $16.34 |
| 17 | Tennessee | $32,790 | $15.76 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $34,001 | $16.35 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $32,631 | $15.69 |
| 20 | Vermont | $35,232 | $16.94 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $32,903 | $15.82 |
| 22 | Virginia | $36,795 | $17.69 |
| 23 | Utah | $33,008 | $15.87 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $34,572 | $16.62 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $32,217 | $15.49 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $31,826 | $15.30 |
| 27 | Nevada | $33,315 | $16.02 |
| 28 | Georgia | $32,119 | $15.44 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $32,142 | $15.45 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $32,600 | $15.67 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $31,903 | $15.34 |
| 32 | Missouri | $31,884 | $15.33 |
| 33 | California | $33,664 | $16.18 |
| 34 | Colorado | $33,258 | $15.99 |
| 35 | Delaware | $32,667 | $15.71 |
| 36 | Montana | $32,825 | $15.78 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $29,980 | $14.41 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $32,199 | $15.48 |
| 39 | Florida | $32,014 | $15.39 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $30,584 | $14.70 |
| 41 | Connecticut | $31,516 | $15.15 |
| 42 | New Jersey | $29,364 | $14.12 |
| 43 | Texas | $31,240 | $15.02 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $29,482 | $14.17 |
| 45 | Indiana | $27,876 | $13.40 |
| 46 | Alabama | $29,263 | $14.07 |
| 47 | Iowa | $28,644 | $13.77 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $27,364 | $13.16 |
| 49 | New York | $29,546 | $14.20 |
| 50 | Maryland | $30,420 | $14.63 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $28,158 | $13.54 |
The highest-paying cities for bindery machine operators are Minneapolis, MN, Spokane, WA, and Columbus, OH.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $42,083 | $20.23 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $41,758 | $20.08 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $34,472 | $16.57 |
| 4 | San Leandro, CA | $34,398 | $16.54 |
| 5 | Madison Heights, MI | $34,041 | $16.37 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $32,817 | $15.78 |
| 7 | West Bend, WI | $32,721 | $15.73 |
| 8 | Springfield, MA | $32,171 | $15.47 |
| 9 | Clearwater, FL | $32,133 | $15.45 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $30,916 | $14.86 |
| 11 | Frederick, MD | $30,451 | $14.64 |
| 12 | Fort Wayne, IN | $28,514 | $13.71 |
| 13 | Urbandale, IA | $28,382 | $13.65 |
| 14 | Columbia, SC | $27,380 | $13.16 |
A bindery machine operator's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $32,652 | $2,721 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
The highest paying types of bindery machine operators are book binder, stitcher operator, and saddle stitch operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
| Press Operator | $34,568 | $2,881 | $16.62 | 55,215 |
| Bindery Operator | $36,599 | $3,050 | $17.60 | 46,373 |
| Machine Operator | $32,874 | $2,740 | $15.80 | 96,834 |
Top companies hiring bindery machine operators now:
Bindery machine operator salaries at Japs-Olson and RRD are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average bindery machine operator salary at companies like Telephone and Data Systems and TPI are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japs-Olson | $34,113 | $16.40 |
| 2 | RRD | $34,078 | $16.38 |
| 3 | TDS | $33,719 | $16.21 |
| 4 | TPI | $33,457 | $16.09 |
| 5 | The Ohio State University | $33,154 | $15.94 |
| 6 | Kelly Services | $33,028 | $15.88 |
| 7 | Automation Personnel Services | $32,695 | $15.72 |
| 8 | ManpowerGroup | $32,412 | $15.58 |
| 9 | Mittera | $32,172 | $15.47 |
| 10 | The Marcus Corporation | $31,553 | $15.17 |
| 11 | Sheridan | $31,496 | $15.14 |
| 12 | Papa John's International | $31,219 | $15.01 |
| 13 | KP Industries, Inc. | $30,893 | $14.85 |
| 14 | The Spokesman-Review | $30,008 | $14.43 |
The average bindery machine operator salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $37,845 | $18.19 |
| 2 | Finance | $34,040 | $16.37 |
| 3 | Media | $33,947 | $16.32 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $33,050 | $15.89 |
| 5 | Hospitality | $32,119 | $15.44 |
The average bindery machine operator salary has risen by $4,613 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average bindery machine operator earned $28,039 annually, but today, they earn $32,652 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for bindery machine operators over the last decade.
Compare bindery machine operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare bindery machine operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,700 | $15.70 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $31,500 | $15.14 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $31,300 | $15.07 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $30,500 | $14.68 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $29,900 | $14.39 | +3.7% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japs-Olson Company, LLC | Bindery Machine Operator-3Rd Shift | Minneapolis, MN | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Firstoption Workforce Solutions | Bindery/Machine Operator | San Antonio, TX | 06/20/2025 | $33,392 |
| The Bernard | Machine Operator, Bindery | Chanhassen, MN | 06/16/2025 | $33,696 |
| The Bernard Group Inc. | Machine Operator, Bindery | Chanhassen, MN | 06/16/2025 | $33,696 |
| Department of Justice | Bindery Machine Operator Supervisor (Bindery Machine Operator Foreman-Unicor) | Sandstone, MN | 06/11/2025 | $82,061 |
| Reliable Staffing Resources | Bindery Machine Operator & Setup Technician-2Nd Shift | Westerville, OH | 06/04/2025 | $30,262 |
| Japs-Olson Company, LLC | Bindery Machine Operator-3Rd Shift | Minneapolis, MN | 05/10/2025 | $41,740 |
| Japs-Olson Company, LLC | Bindery Machine Operator-2Nd Shift | Minneapolis, MN | 04/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| QPS Employment Group | Bindery Machine Operator | Hazelwood, MO | 04/30/2025 | $37,566 |
| MacKin Educational Resources | Bindery Machine Operator-Days | Lane, KS | 04/28/2025 | $37,044 |
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