How to become an adhesive bonding machine operators and tender

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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..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.

What adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders do

• 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.
• 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.
• Remove and stack completed materials or products, and restock materials to be joined.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Thinking
• Writing
• Active Learning
• Mathematics

Is adhesive bonding machine operators and tender a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 9% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Utah $65,500
• Oklahoma $59,980
• Idaho $57,670
• Washington $56,580
• Minnesota $56,540

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.