# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/adhesive-bonding-machine-operators-and-tenders
- SOC code: 51-9191.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $46,460 (10th percentile $31,460, 90th percentile $60,810)
- Projected growth: Slower than average, +1.3%
- Openings a year: 1,300
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 92 |
| Investigative (I) | 18 |
| Artistic (A) | 1 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 2 |
| Conventional (C) | 56 |

## What you'd do

- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 90/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 86/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 84/100)
- Getting Information (importance 80/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 79/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 78/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 76/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 75/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 75/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 72/100)

## Skills

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

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Mechanical, English Language, Mathematics, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, Public Safety and Security, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management, Chemistry

## Also called

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

## Related careers

- [Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/paper-goods-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $50,270 median pay
- [Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cutting-and-slicing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $46,570 median pay
- [Machine Feeders and Offbearers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/machine-feeders-and-offbearers): $41,220 median pay
- [Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extruding-forming-pressing-and-compacting-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $45,760 median pay
- [Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/rolling-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $50,140 median pay
- [Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/packaging-and-filling-machine-operators-and-tenders): $43,220 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.