JOB DUTIES 

Many office machines print various kinds of material. Operators using these types of machines may:  

Select type of die size  

Set up the machine  

Change machine ribbon  

Insert material for printing  

Check ink level  

Start machine  

Inspect output  

Remove printed material  

The tools and equipment used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES  

Office Machine Operators may specialize in these areas:

208.582-010 ADDRESSING-MACHINE OPERATORS use a machine which prints addresses, code numbers, and similar information on items such as envelopes, accounting forms, and advertising literature.  

208.685-010 COLLATOR OPERATORS tend machines that assemble pages of printed material in a particular order. They load pages to be assembled in holding trays, adjust the machine controls according to the size of the paper, start the machine, and remove the assembled pages from the machine.  

208.582-014 EMBOSSING-MACHINE OPERATORS use machines which emboss names and addresses on metallic and non-metallic plates for use in duplicating or addressing machines.  

208.685-014 FOLDING-MACHINE OPERATORS tend machines which fold advertising literature, forms, letters, or other paper sheets.  

208.685-018 INSERTING-MACHINE OPERATORS tend machines which insert printed material into folders or envelopes.  

208.685-034 WING-MAILER-MACHINE OPERATORS tend machines that put address labels on advertising matter before mailing.  

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:  

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS  

Office Machine Operators work under the supervision of a department head or an office manager. They generally work in clean, well-lighted, well-ventilated offices. Because some office machines are very noisy, operators may work in special areas apart from other company offices.  

Most Office Machine Operators work a 5-day, 40-hour week. Some overtime may be required to complete a project or meet a deadline.  

Some Office Machine Operators may join a union such as The Office and Professional Employees International Union. Members must pay periodic dues.  

You Should Prefer:

• Working with machines and objects  

• Doing routine, concrete, and organized work  

You Should Be Able To:

• Repeat activities or tasks of short duration  

• Follow oral and written directions  

• Attain set limits and standards  

• Work well with your hands  

• Coordinate movements of your eyes, hands, and feet  

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

You have three documents to copy that are each 24 pages in length. If it takes 30 seconds to copy one page, how long will it take to copy all three documents?  

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

You should be able to read and understand the manuals that come with each piece of equipment that you are asked to operate.  

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

You should be able to document the errors that are occurring with a piece of equipment so that the repair person will be able to fix the problems quickly.  

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

You should be able to accurately judge the amount of time it will take to complete a job so that you can meet all of your deadlines.  

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES  

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a High School Diploma or Equivalent or a High School Diploma with specific Vocational Education Classes or a Certificate (program of up to one year of study beyond high school) or an Associate Degree (Two years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:  

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0600 BUSINESS , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 2200 MATH , 3100 STUDY & WORK OPTIONS , 3300 TECHNOLOGY

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

010 BUSINESS SERVICES & TECHNOLOGY

Approved programs in the Business Services and Technology are a combination of programs in accounting and computing, business data processing, and secretarial programs. The "cluster" provides students with access to acquiring an employable skill for an occupation within the broad field of business and office. Courses in other business and office programs may be required for completion of this program.  

High school students should consult their guidance office for more information about the specific requirements of this program at their school or area vocational education center.  

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

138 GENERAL OFFICE CLERK TRAINING

Programs in General Office Clerk Training are designed for the individuals who wish to learn the basic clerical skills needed for employment in the various office settings. The programs will prepare students to perform such duties as duplicating data, compiling records and reports, tabulating and posting data in record books, sorting and filing correspondence and records, handling mail, and operating office machines.  

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this MOIScript  

***MILITARY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Military Programs related to this MOIScript    

E-Learning Courses and Programs    

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY  

Many employers prefer applicants with some experience in the operation of business machines. To obtain employment in a government agency, applicants are generally required to take a civil service exam. In some cases, additional exams may be required for promotion to higher level jobs.  

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships  

mentorships  

job shadowing experiences  

touring a local Office Machine Operator employer  

internships  

volunteer work with a Office Machine Operator employer  

community service work with an agency  

Ways to gain experience in this field are summer and part-time work in businesses, secondary vocational education programs in business services and technology, and general office clerk training postsecondary programs.  

Direct application to employers is the most common method of entry. Assistance may be obtained by consulting high school, business school, or college placement offices; local offices of Michigan Works!; civil service offices; or newspaper want ads. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:    

Michigan Talent Bank

America's Job Bank  

Classifieds Employment  

Yahoo! Careers

Michigan Works!  

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.  

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT  

Earnings of Office Machine Operators vary depending on the type of machine operated, employer, skill and experience, and geographic location.  

Nationally, Office Machine Operators had median annual earnings of $17,992 in 1998. The earnings of most Office Machine Operators in 1998 were between $10,750 and $31,200 per year, depending on the particular job and level of responsibility.  

Operators employed by the federal government had starting salaries of $13,362 per year in 1999. With some experience, they began at $15,023 per year. Some specialized Operators began at $16,392 per year. The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas.  

Office Machine Operators employed by the State of Michigan had the following annual earnings in (mid 1999):  

In addition to their regular salaries, some Office Machine Operators receive annual bonuses based on length of service.  

Most Office Machine Operators receive paid vacations and holidays; life, accident, disability, and hospitalization insurance; retirement plans; and sick pay. Some receive dental insurance. Some employers may offer stock purchase or saving plans for salaried employees.  

There are few opportunities for advancement in this occupation. Some workers advance to more complex machines. In larger firms, supervisory and managerial positions may be available after obtaining additional business training.  

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK  

Nationally, it has been estimated that there were about 134,400 Office Machine Operators employed in 1996. Employment is expected to decline through the year 2006. The industry distribution for Office Machine Operators looked like this:  

Employment of Office Machine Operators will be limited somewhat by productivity gains associated with more efficient machines.  

There are approximately 3,875 Office Machine Operators employed in Michigan. Most of them worked in urban areas. They worked for manufacturing firms, educational and health institutions, business service firms, banks, insurance companies, government agencies, and retail businesses.  

The employment of Office Machine Operators is expected to decline through the year 2005. An average of 230 annual openings is expected, with all due to the replacement of those who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers change jobs or occupations.  

While the amount of office work is expected to grow, the trend toward centralized and computerized record keeping and processing systems will limit the need for additional Office Machine Operators. For example, more large companies are using computerized letter addressing systems to print address stickers automatically. As a result, the need for Addressing Machine Operators will be limited.  

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2005

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION  

Printed occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below: