Paper mill operator

#43Declining

4/5

Key facts

−5.1%jobs, 2025 to 2035

United States

This job is declining in the United States. AI exposure: low according to the ILO, low according to the BLS. Employment change in the United States by 2035: −5.1% (BLS). Future-proof jobs use similar skills: see "What next?".

The job

Pulp and papermaking plant operators (ISCO 8171). Pulp and papermaking plant operators monitor and operate equipment to process wood, pulp and other cellulose materials in the production of pulp and to produce coat and finish paper.

Page built from official classifications (ILO, ESCO); figures cover all the jobs grouped here.

101 job titles linked to this page

Titles from the European ESCO classification. They are also used for search.

bleach stock preparation operator
bleach stock preparation specialist
bleach stock preparation technician
bleacher operator
bleacher specialist
bleacher technician
coating machine specialist
coter
deinking operative
deinking operator
deinking specialist
deinking technician
deinking worker
digester cook
digester operative
digester operator
digester specialist
digester technician
digester worker
froth flotation deinking operator
froth flotation deinking specialist
froth flotation deinking tank operator
froth flotation deinking tank specialist
froth flotation deinking tank technician
froth flotation deinking tank worker
froth flotation deinking technician
froth flotation deinking worker
laminater
laminating assistant
laminating machine operator
laminating machine specialist
laminating machine technician
laminator operator
laminator specialist
laminator technician
paper bleacher
paper bleacher operator
paper bleacher specialist
paper bleacher technician
paper creaser operator
paper creaser specialist
paper creaser technician
paper machine hand
paper machine operator
paper machine specialist
paper machine technician
paper maker
paper making laminate coating machine operator
paper making machine operator
paper making machine specialist
paper making machine technician
paper perforator operator
paper perforator specialist
paper perforator technician
paper products machine operator
paper products machine specialist
paper products machine technician
paper pulp moulding machine operator
paper pulp moulding machine specialist
paper pulp moulding machine technician
paper pulp moulding machinist
paper pulp moulding operative
paper pulp moulding operator
paper pulp moulding specialist
paper pulp moulding technician
paper pulp moulding worker
paper puncher operator
paper puncher specialist
paper puncher technician
paper stationery machine operative
paper stationery machine operator
paper stationery machine specialist
paper stationery machine technician
paper stationery machine worker
paper stationery machinist
paper-making machine operator
paper-making machine specialist
paper-making machine technician
papermaking laminate coating machine technician
pulp and paper production specialist
pulp and paper technician
pulp and paper technologist
pulp bleacher operator
pulp bleacher specialist
pulp bleacher technician
pulp mill machine operator
pulp mill machine specialist
pulp mill machine technician
pulp mill operator
pulp mill specialist
pulp mill technician
pulp production engineer
pulp production specialist
pulp production technician
pulp production technologist
pulp technician
wash deinking operative
wash deinking operator
wash deinking specialist
wash deinking technician
wash deinking worker

What next?

Future-proof jobs that draw on skills close to this one. They are leads to explore, not an assessment of your profile.

ChangingIndustrial maintenance technician
ChangingFood production line operator
ChangingBoiler operator

Indicative matches: at launch they will come from the skills listed in official occupational directories.

Gauges

Risk 4/5 · High

AI exposureLowILO, 2025 index

Employment outlookSharp declineBLS, 2025-2035 projections (Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders; Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders; Print binding and finishing workers (+1))

Hiring difficultyNot availableNo US indicator measures hiring difficulty job by job

PayModestBLS, 2025 median annual wage: $48,446

EntryQuickBLS, typical education needed for entry

No US indicator measures hiring difficulty job by job: this gauge stays empty. How countries are compared

Sources

AI exposure categories and employment projections, 2025-2035 (XLSX file)Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States · August 2026 · official statistics
Generative AI and Jobs: a refined global index of occupational exposureInternational Labour Organization and NASK · May 2025 · large survey
ESCO, European classification of skills, competences, qualifications and occupations (job titles and O*NET crosswalk)European Commission · version 1.2 · official statistics
Jobs in 2030: projections by occupational family (summary table)Dares and France Stratégie · March 2022 · official statistics
Labour needs survey (BMO) 2026France Travail · 2026 · large survey
EURES report on labour shortages and surpluses 2025, annexEuropean Labour Authority · June 2026 · official statistics

Checked on 27 October 2026.