Office Machine Operators, Except Computer

Career Overview

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

Also Known As

  • Copy Center Operator
  • Copy Machine Operator
  • Key Operator
  • Machine Operator

Alternate Job Titles

  • Braille Coder
  • Braille Duplicating Machine Operator
  • Business Machine Operator
  • Check Embosser
  • Check Writing Machine Operator
  • Clerical Offset Duplicating Machine Operator
  • Coin Machine Operator
  • Coin Rolling Machine Operator
  • Coin Wrapping Machine Operator
  • Collating Machine Operator
  • Collator Operator
  • Compotype Operator
  • Copy and Print Associate
  • Copy Associate
  • Copy Center Associate

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

  • 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.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

  • English Language
  • Customer and Personal Service

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

  • Near Vision
  • Written Comprehension
  • Information Ordering
  • Oral Comprehension
  • Oral Expression
  • Selective Attention
  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness
  • Speech Recognition
  • Control Precision

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Cautiousness
  • Integrity
  • Achievement Orientation

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

  • Support
  • Relationships
  • Independence
  • Working Conditions
  • Achievement

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: 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.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Windows

Tools & Equipment

  • Automated microfilm processors
  • Automatic labeling equipment
  • Barcode scanners
  • Computer data input scanners
  • Computer form printers
  • Copy machines
  • Embossing machines
  • Form separators
  • Graphic plotters
  • High speed impact printers
  • Inkjet facsimile machines
  • Lithographic presses
  • Mail addressing machines
  • Mail opening equipment
  • Mail sorting machines

Work Environment

  • E-Mail
  • Time Pressure
  • Telephone Conversations
  • Contact With Others
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

Salary & Job Market

Salary PercentileAnnual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)$29,850
Median$39,020
Top Earners (90th percentile)$56,340

Workers Employed Nationally: 24,740

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:


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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

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