Career profile · SOC ESC-36721C70

envelope maker

Envelope makers tend a machine that takes in paper and executes the steps to creat envelopes: cut and fold the paper and glue it, then apply a weaker food-grade glue to the flap of the envelope for the consumer to seal it.

envelope maker envelope makers tend a machine that takes in paper and executes the steps to creat envelopes: cut and fold the paper and glue it, then apply a weaker food-grade glue to the flap of the envelope for the consumer to seal it. The role shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include quality standards, envelope cutting standards, adjust envelope cutting settings, lift stacks of paper, troubleshoot.

AI exposure
5.0/10
automation risk

Pay in the UK

UK: median £30,360 a year for Paper and wood machine operatives (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)

UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 8131). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)

Pay in India (occupation group)

Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Plant and machine operators and assemblers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only envelope maker, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.

Urban India
₹18,618 a month
Rural India
₹16,257 a month
All India
₹17,301 a month

Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 8. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report

Top skills

quality standards envelope cutting standards adjust envelope cutting settings lift stacks of paper troubleshoot perform test run work safely with machines trim excess material wear appropriate protective gear monitor conveyor belt

Knowledge you'll build

  • Production and Processing
  • Mechanical
  • Mathematics
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Education and Training
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Engineering and Technology

What you'd actually do

  • Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems.
  • Observe operation of various machines to detect and correct machine malfunctions such as improper forming, glue flow, or pasteboard tension.
  • Start machines and move controls to regulate tension on pressure rolls, to synchronize speed of machine components, and to adjust temperatures of glue or paraffin.
  • Disassemble machines to maintain, repair, or replace broken or worn parts, using hand or power tools.
  • Install attachments to machines for gluing, folding, printing, or cutting.
  • Cut products to specified dimensions, using hand or power cutters.

Tools & technology you'd use

Adobe Acrobat hot Adobe Illustrator hot Adobe InDesign hot Adobe Photoshop hot Microsoft Excel hot Microsoft Office software hot Microsoft Word hot Objectif Lune PrintShop Mail Quark enterprise publishing software Virtual Systems Mail-Shop

Frequently asked questions

What does envelope maker do?

Envelope makers tend a machine that takes in paper and executes the steps to creat envelopes: cut and fold the paper and glue it, then apply a weaker food-grade glue to the flap of the envelope for the consumer to seal it.

What skills does envelope maker need?

The most in-demand skills for this role include quality standards, envelope cutting standards, adjust envelope cutting settings, lift stacks of paper, troubleshoot, perform test run. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.

Will AI replace envelope maker?

Our AI-durability model gives envelope maker a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.

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