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Paper machine operator

Also called paper maker, paper machine hand, paper machine technician

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.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects22 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Stationary plant and machine operatorsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,000 (Bulgaria) to €5,500 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Stationary plant and machine operatorsWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 7 in 10 train through vocational routes.Stationary plant and machine operatorsWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Pulp and papermaking plant operators · ILO

What you'd do

Pulp and papermaking plant operators · ILO
  • Operating and monitoring screening and bleaching equipment, digesters, mixing tanks, washers and other pulp processing machinery and equipment to carry out one or more cellulose processing steps
  • Operating and monitoring papermaking and finishing process machinery and equipment to dry, calender, laminate, coat, slit, trim, wind or carry out other papermaking and finishing process steps
  • Controlling start-up and shut-down of machinery and equipment, and observing equipment and machinery panel indicators, gauges, and other equipment to detect machinery and equipment malfunctions and ensure process steps are carried out according to specifications
  • Communicating with process control operators to make process adjustments and start up or shut down machinery and equipment as required
  • Analysing instrument readings and production test samples and making adjustments to production process and equipment as required
  • Mounting, positioning and threading paper rolls using a hoist
  • Inspecting paper visually for wrinkles, holes, discoloration, streaks or other defects and taking corrective action
  • Completing and maintaining production reports
Work safely with machinesMonitor pulp qualityConcentrate pulp slurrySupply machineSet up the controller of a machine+ 9 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as stationary plant and machine operators in the EU
4.79m4.76m4.7m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
1,125,000 replacing leavers 71,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Stationary plant and machine operators22
All jobs29
Right now
6 of 27 countries report a shortage of pulp and papermaking plant operators, 2 a surplus.
Pulp and papermaking plant operators · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €5,500 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among plant and machine operators, and assemblers in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Plant and machine operators, and assemblers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in materials (glass, paper, plastic and wood) is the usual route.

Highest qualification of stationary plant and machine operators (EU, 2025)
Degree 8%Vocational 53%General secondary 10%Basic schooling 29%
Fields that teach it
Materials (glass, paper, plastic and wood) · Chemistry
Vocational route, EU
7 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.28 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Completing and maintaining production reports0.56
Communicating with process control operators to make process adjustments and start up or shut down machinery and equipment as required0.35
Analysing instrument readings and production test samples and making adjustments to production process and equipment as required0.34
Inspecting paper visually for wrinkles, holes, discoloration, streaks or other defects and taking corrective action0.27
Operating and monitoring papermaking and finishing process machinery and equipment to dry, calender, laminate, coat, slit, trim, wind or carry out other papermaking and finishing process steps0.21
Operating and monitoring screening and bleaching equipment, digesters, mixing tanks, washers and other pulp processing machinery and equipment to carry out one or more cellulose processing steps0.18
Controlling start-up and shut-down of machinery and equipment, and observing equipment and machinery panel indicators, gauges, and other equipment to detect machinery and equipment malfunctions and ensure process steps are carried out according to specifications0.17
Mounting, positioning and threading paper rolls using a hoist0.14

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for pulp and papermaking plant operators. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).