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.

Also Known As:

Corrugator Operator Cup Room Technician Folder Machine Operator Gluer Operator Paper Cutter Operator Paper Machine Backtender Paper Machine Operator Stitching Machine Operator

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in United States

Job Outlook Below Average

New job opportunities are less likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

91,400

-6% Change From 2024

Explore Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems.
Measure, space, and set saw blades, cutters, and perforators, according to product specifications.
Place rolls of paper or cardboard on machine feed tracks, and thread paper through gluing, coating, and slitting rollers.
Install attachments to machines for gluing, folding, printing, or cutting.
Lift tote boxes of finished cartons, and dump cartons into feed hoppers.
Disassemble machines to maintain, repair, or replace broken or worn parts, using hand or power tools.
Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems.
Fill glue and paraffin reservoirs, and position rollers to dispense glue onto paperboard.
Stamp products with information such as dates, using hand stamps or automatic stamping devices.
Remove finished cores, and stack or place them on conveyors for transfer to other work areas.
Remove finished cores, and stack or place them on conveyors for transfer to other work areas.
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.
Monitor finished cartons as they drop from forming machines into rotating hoppers and into gravity feed chutes to prevent jamming.
Measure, space, and set saw blades, cutters, and perforators, according to product specifications.
Cut products to specified dimensions, using hand or power cutters.
Place rolls of paper or cardboard on machine feed tracks, and thread paper through gluing, coating, and slitting rollers.
Adjust guide assemblies, forming bars, and folding mechanisms according to specifications, using hand tools.
Observe operation of various machines to detect and correct machine malfunctions such as improper forming, glue flow, or pasteboard tension.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.