Bookbinder

Print

Work Tasks

• Make books from large printed sheets of paper
• Use machines to fold sheets, put pages in the right order, and sew them together
• Press and trim the book bodies with machines
• Glue on covers and wrap the book in a paper jacket
• Work indoors in shops for printing plants or the government
• Use book covers, folding, gluing, and sewing machines, glue, plates, and hand-binding tools

Salary, Size & Growth

• $33,000 average per year ($15.75 per hour)
• A medium occupation (54,200 workers in 2010)
• Expected to decline (1.9% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: On-the-job training
• Employers Prefer: A high school diploma and an apprenticeship in book binding
• Skills/Courses: Courses in computers, math, shop, and graphic arts.