How much does a bonding operator make?
a year · about $22 an hour
A typical bonding operator in the United States makes $46,460 a year, about $22 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They read a work order, load paper, wood, rubber, or plastic, set glue and machine controls, then run the bonding machine. They check finished pieces, clear jams, and stack parts for the next step.
Did you know? One bonding job can glue paper or veneer into plywood, as well as join rubber, plastic, and other materials—a surprisingly wide mix!
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $31,460 and $60,810How do you become one?
In the U.S., finish high school or earn a GED, then apply for factory work and learn the machine on the job. O*NET puts this job in a low-preparation group; most reported new hires have a high-school diploma or equivalent.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience and useful skills or credentials can matter, along with the employer, industry, location, and how complex or responsible the tasks are. Longer hours or shift premiums may also change take-home pay.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Utah ($65,500), lowest in Mississippi ($31,250).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $31,460 | $46,460 | $60,810 | about 12,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | $65,500 | about 100 |
| Oklahoma | $59,980 | about 390 |
| New Jersey | $59,170 | — |
| Idaho | $57,670 | about 140 |
| Washington | $56,580 | about 320 |
Official definition: 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. Excludes “Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders” (51-6042).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-9191.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes519191.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/skills/zone/51-9191.00
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY