About This Career Path
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.
Manufacturing
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.
Manufacturing Industry
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Average
$40,940
ANNUAL
$19.68
HOURLY
Entry Level
$29,580
ANNUAL
$14.22
HOURLY
Mid Level
$38,370
ANNUAL
$18.45
HOURLY
Expert Level
$48,020
ANNUAL
$23.09
HOURLY
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
810
Projected job openings through 2030
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
01
Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems.
02
Observe operation of various machines to detect and correct machine malfunctions such as improper forming, glue flow, or pasteboard tension.
03
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.
04
Install attachments to machines for gluing, folding, printing, or cutting.
05
Cut products to specified dimensions, using hand or power cutters.
06
Place rolls of paper or cardboard on machine feed tracks, and thread paper through gluing, coating, and slitting rollers.
07
Monitor finished cartons as they drop from forming machines into rotating hoppers and into gravity feed chutes to prevent jamming.
08
Adjust guide assemblies, forming bars, and folding mechanisms according to specifications, using hand tools.
09
Measure, space, and set saw blades, cutters, and perforators, according to product specifications.
10
Fill glue and paraffin reservoirs, and position rollers to dispense glue onto paperboard.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Common knowledge, skills & abilities needed to get a foot in the door.
KNOWLEDGE
Production and Processing
KNOWLEDGE
Mechanical
KNOWLEDGE
Mathematics
KNOWLEDGE
Customer and Personal Service
KNOWLEDGE
English Language
SKILL
Operations Monitoring
SKILL
Operation and Control
SKILL
Quality Control Analysis
SKILL
Active Listening
SKILL
Critical Thinking
ABILITY
Near Vision
ABILITY
Arm-Hand Steadiness
ABILITY
Control Precision
ABILITY
Problem Sensitivity
ABILITY
Finger Dexterity
Manufacturing
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