Packaging Machine Operator
Run machines that fill, seal, label and package products.
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- A few weeks to months on the job
Mechanics, Maintenance & Manufacturing career
Adhesive Machine Operator
Also called: Gluing Machine Operator · Laminating Operator · Bonding Machine Operator · Coater Operator
What adhesive machine operators do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does an adhesive machine operator do?
Adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders operate or tend machines that apply adhesives to join items for further processing or to form a finished product. The median pay is $46,460 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about A few months on the job, and employment is projected to grow +1.3% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$46,460$22.34/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+1.3%2025–35, slower than average
- Openings per year1,300Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationHigh school diploma or equivalentBLS classification
- Time to trainA few months on the jobTypical program length
- U.S. jobs12,100Employment, 2025
What adhesive machine operators do
Adhesive machine operators bond materials. They run laminators, glue lines and coaters that join wood, paper, plastic, fabric and metal, control glue amounts and temperatures, and test bond strength.
A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical. BLS projects slight growth.
Typical duties
- Set up bonding machines
- Load adhesives
- Control glue spread
- Feed materials
- Monitor curing
- Test bonds
- Clean equipment
Work environment and schedule
Operators work in packaging, furniture, auto parts and building products plants.
Schedule: Full time, often shifts.
A day in the life
- Check glue tanks.
- Heat the hot melt.
- Run laminated panels.
- Check glue spread.
See a full day in the life of an adhesive machine operator →
Adhesive Machine Operator salary
Half of adhesive machine operators earned more than $46,460 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $31,460 for the lowest 10% to $60,810 for the top 10%.
Full adhesive machine operator pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become an adhesive machine operator
- Finish high school
- Get hired
- Learn the machine
- Learn bond testing
- Advance
A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical.
Step-by-step guide to becoming an adhesive machine operator →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Laminator operation
- Glue spread control
- Bond testing
- Temperature control
- Material handling
People skills
- Attention to detail
- Reliability
- Safety focus
- Teamwork
All adhesive machine operator skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- No degree needed
- Steady demand
- Training provided
- Many industries
Cons
- Fumes
- Sticky cleanup
- Repetitive
- Shift work
Certifications and licenses
- Machine training: Employer.
- Chemical safety: Employer.
- OSHA 10: Safety.
- Forklift certification: Helpful.
Career path
- Operator: Entry.
- Lead Operator: Lead.
- Quality Tech: Quality.
- Supervisor: Lead.
Learn the job before day one
Our Adhesive Machine Operator training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as run a peel test on a bond and set glue spread on a roll coater, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: Adhesive Machine Operator vs. Packaging Machine Operator · Adhesive Machine Operator vs. Paper Machine Operator · Adhesive Machine Operator vs. Woodworking Machine Operator · Adhesive Machine Operator vs. Production Assembler
Adhesive Machine Operator FAQ
Do I need a degree?
No.
Is the job growing?
BLS projects slight growth.
Where do they work?
Packaging, furniture, auto and building products.
How much does an adhesive machine operator make?
The median annual wage for adhesive machine operators was $46,460 ($22.34 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $31,460 and the highest 10% earned more than $60,810.
How long does it take to become an adhesive machine operator?
Most people need about A few months on the job of training. A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical.
Do you need a degree to be an adhesive machine operator?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
More adhesive machine operator questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 51-9191 (Adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.