Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders

Operate or tend bonding machines that use adhesives to join items for further processing or to form a completed product. Processes include joining veneer sheets into plywood; gluing paper; or joining rubber and rubberized fabric parts, plastic, simulated leather, or other materials.

Also called: Coater Operator, Glue Line Operator, Glue Reel Operator, Gluer Machine Operator, Gluing Pressman, Machine Operator, Perfect Bind Machine Operator, Sealer Operator, Utility Worker, Adhesive Laminator, Automatic Gluing Machine Operator, Automobile Brake Bonder, Band Builder, Band Edger, Bead Preparer, Bindery Operator, Bindery Specialist, Bindery Technician (Bindery Tech), Blanket Winder Operator, Board Liner Operator, Bonder, Bonding Machine Operator, Bonding Molder, Book Jacket Cover Machine Operator, Bottomer Operator, Box Lining Machine Feeder, Box Lining Machine Operator, Box Sealing Machine Operator, Brush Head Maker, Bulk Folder, Bulk Pallet Builder, Bulk Sealer, Bulk Sealer Operator, Card Decorator, Case Making Machine Operator, Casing Operator, Cementer, Cementing Bulk Material Operator, Cementing Machine Operator, Channel Cementer, Chip Applying Machine Tender, Collet Gluer, Composite Bonder, Core Composer Machine Tender, Core Laying Machine Operator, Core Machine Tender, Cover Stripper, Crown Assembly Machine Operator, Custom Applicator, Doweling Machine Operator, Dual Hose Cementer, Edge Bonder, Edge Glue Machine Tender, Edge Gluer, Electric Sealing Machine Operator, Electronic Heat Seal Operator, Ending Machine Operator, Envelope Sealer, Equipment Operator, Extension Edger, Finishing Operator, Folder Gluer Operator, Glass Wool Blanket Machine Feeder, Glue Jointer Operator, Glue Line Formulator, Glue Machine Operator, Glue Mounter Operator, Glue Size Machine Operator, Glue Sprayer, Glue Spreading Machine Operator, Glue Wheel Operator, Gluer, Gummer, Gumming Machine Operator, Handle Machine Operator, Hat Lining Paster, Hat Stock Laminating Machine Operator, Heat Seal Operator, Heat Sealing Machine Operator, Hot Plate Plywood Press Operator, Label Paster, Laminating Machine Operator, Laminator, Lamp Shade Joiner, Liner Machine Operator, Loose-leaf Binder Coverer, Machine Applicator Cementer, Machine Cementer, Machine Cementer and Folder, Machine Edge Bander, Machine Joiner Cementer, Masking Machine Operator, Panel Flow Machine Operator, Paper Gluing Operator, Paper Sealer, Patch Machine Operator, Ply Bander, Plywood Layup Line Core Feeder, Pocket Builder, Roll Builder, Roll Builder Operator, Sealer, Sealing Machine Operator, Ski Topper, Splicer Operator, Spool Maker, Spreader Operator, Stock Roller, Stripper, Stripping Machine Operator, Tape Maker, Tape Making Machine Operator, Taper Operator, Tipper, V-Belt Builder, Veneer Glue Spreader, Wood Gluer, Wrapping Machine Operator

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

Align and position materials being joined to ensure accurate application of adhesive or heat sealing.
Adjust machine components according to specifications such as widths, lengths, and thickness of materials and amounts of glue, cement, or adhesive required.
Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions and report or resolve problems.
Start machines, and turn valves or move controls to feed, admit, apply, or transfer materials and adhesives, and to adjust temperature, pressure, and time settings.
Fill machines with glue, cement, or adhesives.
Perform test production runs and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that completed products meet standards and specifications.
Examine and measure completed materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices such as tape measures, gauges, or calipers.
Read work orders and communicate with coworkers to determine machine and equipment settings and adjustments and supply and product specifications.
Remove and stack completed materials or products, and restock materials to be joined.
Observe gauges, meters, and control panels to obtain information about equipment temperatures and pressures, or the speed of feeders or conveyors.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operation and Control
Operations Monitoring
Active Listening
Speaking
Monitoring
Quality Control Analysis
Reading Comprehension
Coordination
Troubleshooting
Repairing
Time Management
Critical Thinking

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (72.61% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

37,220–53,610 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-9191.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop additional welding processes, blueprint reading, and inspection skills; explore specialist fabrication, welding inspection, or team-lead paths where qualified.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (72.61% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders