National
| Median wages (2008) |
$15.91 hourly, $33,080 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
113,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Decline rapidly (-10% or lower)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
27,000 additional employees |
51-9196.00 - Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products.
Sample of reported job titles:
Paper Machine Operator, Folder Machine Operator, Winder Operator, Paper Machine Backtender, Stitching Machine Operator, Paper Cutter Operator, Corrugator Operator, Winderman, Gluer Machine Setup Operator, Knife Operator
Tasks
- Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems.
- Start machines and move controls to regulate tension on pressure rolls, to synchronize speed of machine components, and to adjust temperatures of glue or paraffin.
- Adjust guide assemblies, forming bars, and folding mechanisms according to specifications, using hand tools.
- Install attachments to machines for gluing, folding, printing, or cutting.
- Measure, space, and set saw blades, cutters, and perforators, according to product specifications.
- Observe operation of various machines to detect and correct machine malfunctions such as improper forming, glue flow, or pasteboard tension.
- Stamp products with information such as dates, using hand stamps or automatic stamping devices.
- Place rolls of paper or cardboard on machine feedtracks, and thread paper through gluing, coating, and slitting rollers.
- Fill glue and paraffin reservoirs, and position rollers to dispense glue onto paperboard.
- Cut products to specified dimensions, using hand or power cutters.
| 51-2021.00 |
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers |
| 51-4021.00 |
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4031.00 |
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 
|
| 51-4035.00 |
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4072.00 |
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4193.00 |
Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-5023.00 |
Printing Machine Operators |
| 51-9041.00 |
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
