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: Adhesive Laminator, Automatic Gluing Machine Operator, Automobile Brake Bonder, Band Builder, Band Edger, Bead Preparer
Median pay
$46,460
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$31,460 – $60,810
People employed
11,500
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 2.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 3.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders pay by state
Annual median pay by state (36 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders salary in every state →
What adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders do
- 01Align and position materials being joined to ensure accurate application of adhesive or heat sealing.
- 02Adjust machine components according to specifications such as widths, lengths, and thickness of materials and amounts of glue, cement, or adhesive required.
- 03Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions and report or resolve problems.
- 04Start machines, and turn valves or move controls to feed, admit, apply, or transfer materials and adhesives, and to adjust temperature, pressure, and time settings.
- 05Fill machines with glue, cement, or adhesives.
- 06Perform test production runs and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that completed products meet standards and specifications.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic92% · +8%
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers91% · 0%
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers90% · −11%
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic86% · +3%
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic86% · −5%
Change into adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers94% · $46,350
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders94% · $38,180
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers90% · $41,220
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders90% · $39,530
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders89% · $38,760