Office Machine Operators, Except Computer

What the job really is

Operate one or more of a variety of office machines, such as photocopying, photographic, and duplicating machines, or other office machines.

At a glance

• Sector: Office & Administrative
• O*NET-SOC code: 43-9071
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Read job orders to determine the type of work to be done, the quantities to be produced, and the materials needed.
• Deliver completed work.
• Place original copies in feed trays, feed originals into feed rolls, or position originals on tables beneath camera lenses.
• Sort, assemble, and proof completed work.
• Operate office machines such as high speed business photocopiers, readers, scanners, addressing machines, stencil-cutting machines, microfilm readers or printers, folding and inserting machines, bursters, and binder machines.
• Complete records of production, including work volumes and outputs, materials used, and any backlogs.
• Compute prices for services and receive payment, or provide supervisors with billing information.
• Set up and adjust machines, regulating factors such as speed, ink flow, focus, and number of copies.
• Load machines with materials such as blank paper or film.
• Monitor machine operation, and make adjustments as necessary to ensure proper operation.
• Clean machines, perform minor repairs, and report major repair needs.
• File and store completed documents.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, Automated microfilm processors

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Prepress Technicians and Workers
• Printing Press Operators
• Data Entry Keyers
• Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
• Print Binding and Finishing Workers
• Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers
• Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
• Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Office Machine Operators, Except Computer — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.