Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-9196.00
Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.18–0.28· 2 ISCO-08 groups
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
ILO value for each linked ISCO-08 group
- ISCO-08 8143Paper Products Machine Operators0.18
- ISCO-08 8171Pulp and Papermaking Plant Operators0.28
Task-level exposure
15 rated tasks · 0 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (0.0%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems.O*NET Task ID 12678 | 0.0 |
Start machines and move controls to regulate tension on pressure rolls, to synchronize speed of machine components, and to adjust temperatures of glue or paraffin.O*NET Task ID 12679 | 0.0 |
Adjust guide assemblies, forming bars, and folding mechanisms according to specifications, using hand tools.O*NET Task ID 12680 | 0.0 |
Install attachments to machines for gluing, folding, printing, or cutting.O*NET Task ID 12681 | 0.0 |
Measure, space, and set saw blades, cutters, and perforators, according to product specifications.O*NET Task ID 12682 | 0.0 |
Observe operation of various machines to detect and correct machine malfunctions such as improper forming, glue flow, or pasteboard tension.O*NET Task ID 12683 | 0.0 |
Stamp products with information such as dates, using hand stamps or automatic stamping devices.O*NET Task ID 12684 | 0.0 |
Place rolls of paper or cardboard on machine feed tracks, and thread paper through gluing, coating, and slitting rollers.O*NET Task ID 12685 | 0.0 |
Fill glue and paraffin reservoirs, and position rollers to dispense glue onto paperboard.O*NET Task ID 12686 | 0.0 |
Cut products to specified dimensions, using hand or power cutters.O*NET Task ID 12687 | 0.0 |
Monitor finished cartons as they drop from forming machines into rotating hoppers and into gravity feed chutes to prevent jamming.O*NET Task ID 12688 | 0.0 |
Disassemble machines to maintain, repair, or replace broken or worn parts, using hand or power tools.O*NET Task ID 12689 | 0.0 |
Remove finished cores, and stack or place them on conveyors for transfer to other work areas.O*NET Task ID 12690 | 0.0 |
Lift tote boxes of finished cartons, and dump cartons into feed hoppers.O*NET Task ID 12691 | 0.0 |
Load automatic stapling mechanisms.O*NET Task ID 12692 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (14)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems. | Core |
| Start machines and move controls to regulate tension on pressure rolls, to synchronize speed of machine components, and to adjust temperatures of glue or paraffin. | Core |
| Observe operation of various machines to detect and correct machine malfunctions such as improper forming, glue flow, or pasteboard tension. | Core |
| Disassemble machines to maintain, repair, or replace broken or worn parts, using hand or power tools. | Core |
| Adjust guide assemblies, forming bars, and folding mechanisms according to specifications, using hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Install attachments to machines for gluing, folding, printing, or cutting. | Supplemental |
| Measure, space, and set saw blades, cutters, and perforators, according to product specifications. | Supplemental |
| Stamp products with information such as dates, using hand stamps or automatic stamping devices. | Supplemental |
| Place rolls of paper or cardboard on machine feed tracks, and thread paper through gluing, coating, and slitting rollers. | Supplemental |
| Fill glue and paraffin reservoirs, and position rollers to dispense glue onto paperboard. | Supplemental |
| Cut products to specified dimensions, using hand or power cutters. | Supplemental |
| Monitor finished cartons as they drop from forming machines into rotating hoppers and into gravity feed chutes to prevent jamming. | Supplemental |
| Remove finished cores, and stack or place them on conveyors for transfer to other work areas. | Supplemental |
| Lift tote boxes of finished cartons, and dump cartons into feed hoppers. | Supplemental |
0.95/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Start machines and move controls to regulate tension on pressure rolls, to synchronize speed of machine components, and to adjust temperatures of glue or paraffin. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Observe operation of various machines to detect and correct machine malfunctions such as improper forming, glue flow, or pasteboard tension. | E0 none |
| Disassemble machines to maintain, repair, or replace broken or worn parts, using hand or power tools. | E0 none |
| Adjust guide assemblies, forming bars, and folding mechanisms according to specifications, using hand tools. | E2 structured facilities |
| Install attachments to machines for gluing, folding, printing, or cutting. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure, space, and set saw blades, cutters, and perforators, according to product specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Stamp products with information such as dates, using hand stamps or automatic stamping devices. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Place rolls of paper or cardboard on machine feed tracks, and thread paper through gluing, coating, and slitting rollers. | E2 structured facilities |
| Fill glue and paraffin reservoirs, and position rollers to dispense glue onto paperboard. | E2 structured facilities |
| Cut products to specified dimensions, using hand or power cutters. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Monitor finished cartons as they drop from forming machines into rotating hoppers and into gravity feed chutes to prevent jamming. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove finished cores, and stack or place them on conveyors for transfer to other work areas. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Lift tote boxes of finished cartons, and dump cartons into feed hoppers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 96K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 93K
- Change (2025–35)
- -3.6%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $50,270
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89131 | 종이상자 및 봉투 제조기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 89132 | 판지 라이닝기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 89134 | 위생용 종이제품 제조기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 89139 | 그 외 종이제품 생산기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 89122 | 종이 제조 장치 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 89133 | 인화지 제조기 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 89190 | 그 외 목재 및 종이 관련 기계 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 8143Paper Products Machine Operators
- ISCO-08 8171Pulp and Papermaking Plant Operators
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- absorbent pad machine operatorESCO 8143.1This occupation is broader
Absorbent pad machine operators tend a machine that takes in cellulose fibres and compresses them to a highly absorbent pad material for use in hygienic products such as diapers and tampons.
- artisan papermakerESCO 7317.1This occupation is broader
Artisan papermakers create paper slurry, strain it on screens, and dry it manually or using small scale equipment.
- bindery operatorESCO 7323.1This occupation is broader
Bindery operators tend machines that bind printed or unprinted paper into volumes using staples, twine, glue or other binding technologies.
- bleacher operatorESCO 8171.1This occupation is broader
Bleacher operators tend a machine that bleaches wood pulp to serve in the production of white paper. Different bleaching techniques are used to complement the various pulping methods, and to obtain different grades of whiteness.
- corrugator operatorESCO 8143.2This occupation is broader
Corrugator operators tend a machine which folds a sheet of heavy paper in a wave-like pattern and covers it on both sides to create a lightweight, sturdy material suitable for packaging.
- envelope makerESCO 8143.3This occupation is broader
Envelope makers tend a machine that takes in paper and executes the steps to creat envelopes: cut and fold the paper and glue it, then apply a weaker food-grade glue to the flap of the envelope for the consumer to seal it.
- paper bag machine operatorESCO 8143.4This occupation is broader
Paper bag machine operators tend a machine that takes in paper, folds it and glues it to produce paper bags of various sizes, shapes, and grades of strength.
- paper pulp moulding operatorESCO 8171.6This occupation is broader
Paper pulp moulding operators tend a machine that moulds paper pulp in various shapes, usually for use in lightweight but sturdy packaging material, such as egg boxes.
- paper stationery machine operatorESCO 8171.7This occupation is broader
Paper stationery machine operators work with machines that perform one or more operations on paper to make it suitable for specific markets, such as punching holes, perforating, creasing, and collating with a carbon coated sheet.
- print folding operatorESCO 7323.4This occupation is broader
Print folding operators tend a machine that folds paper and bundles of paper.
- tissue paper perforating and rewinding operatorESCO 8143.7This occupation is broader
Tissue paper perforating and rewinding operators tend a machine that takes in tissue paper, perforates it, and rolls it up to create various types of sanitary paper.
- paper machine operatorESCO 8171.5Overlapping, not the same
Paper machine operators tend a machine that takes in pulp slurry, spread it out over a screen, and drains out the water. The drained slurry is then pressed and dried to produce paper.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H3106 | Conducteur / Conductrice de ligne en industrie papetière | This occupation is broader |
| H3101 | Conducteur / Conductrice de machines à papier ou carton | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| H3105 | Technicien / Technicienne de production en industrie papetière | Related, not a match |
| E1302 | Conducteur / Conductrice de machines de façonnage routage | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| H3104 | Opérateur / Opératrice de production de papier carton | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 8143 | Operadores de máquinas para fabricar productos de papel y cartón | Same scope |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 23122 | Berufe in der Papierverarbeitung und Verpackungstechnik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
| 23101 | Berufe in der Papier- und Verpackungstechnik (ohne Spezialisierung) - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the same |
| 23112 | Berufe in der Papierherstellung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 536 | 木・紙製品製造従事者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 506 | 木・紙製品生産設備制御・監視員 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources