Pulp Machine Operators
Job description
These individuals operate and monitor machines that produce pulp. They also operate equipment and machines that produce, coat, and finish paper. They work in paper and pulp manufacturing and processing plants.
Environment
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- Uncontrolled ambient temperature
Main tasks
- Operate pulp processing machines.
- Operate and monitor machines involved in the manufacture and finishing of paper.
- Install and place paper rolls.
- Detect any abnormalities in the operation of equipment and machinery.
- Ensure that process steps are performed according to specifications.
- Collaborate with Pulping Control Operators.
- Coordinate settings and the operation of equipment and machinery.
- Collect manufacturing samples and perform pulp and blend tests.
- Complete and maintain production reports.
- Visually inspect paper for defects and make adjustments as required.
Advancement and mobility
- Experience leads to senior positions.
- There is little mobility between jobs in this group.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $25.00
- Median
- $32.01
- Maximum
- $45.00
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Les 2 champs de sélection ci-dessous vous permettent de comparer 2 régions. Les données des régions seront automatiquement mises à jour à la sélection. Par défaut, la province de Québec est sélectionnée pour la première région.
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
Good
All of Québec
Non available
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
2,000
All of Québec
na
Gender distribution
All of Québec
Not available.
- 7.3% Female
- 92.7% Male
Not available.
- 7.3% Female
- 92.7% Male
Job types
All of Québec
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
$81,000
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 32291% of jobs
-
NAICS 44, 451% of jobs
-
NAICS 3391% of jobs
-
NAICS 313, 314, 315, 3161% of jobs
-
NAICS 55, 561% of jobs
-
Others5% of jobs
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 32291% of jobs
-
NAICS 44, 451% of jobs
-
NAICS 3391% of jobs
-
NAICS 313, 314, 315, 3161% of jobs
-
NAICS 55, 561% of jobs
-
Others5% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
Secondary
DVS in pâtes et papiers - Opérations
Code : 5262
Placement rate: 94%
6% of graduates pursue further studies
Also required
- Specialized training in an industrial environment.
Sometimes required
- Forklift Operator competency card may be required or considered an asset.
- First aid certification may be required.
- Certificate in liquid natural gas handling (MGNL) issued by the Ministère du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (MTESS) may be required
- Experience as a Pulp Labourer in the same company is usually required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Monitoring operations
- Information processing
- Quality control analysis
- Result evaluation
- Operations and control
- Critical thought
- Reading comprehension
- Active listening
- Time management
- Judgment and decision-making
Abilities
- Perception speed
- Near vision
- Awareness of issues
- Information organization
- Hand-arm stability
- Reaction time
- Control accuracy
- Selective attention
- Oral comprehension
- Limb coordination
- Static muscle power
- Processing flexibility
- Classification
- Speed control
- Digital dexterity
- Manual dexterity
- Overall balance of the body
- Core strength
- Verbal skills
- Colour perception and distinction
- Deductive reasoning
- Inductive reasoning
- Speech recognition
- Hearing sensitivity
- Physical flexibility in extension
- Distance vision
- Visualization
Knowledge and attributes
- Leadership
- Perseverance
- Sense of responsibility
- Capacity to work in a team
- Knowledge of production and treatment
- Sense of initiative
- Tolerance to stress
- Respect standards and regulations
- Learning speed
- Knowledge of mechanics
Interests
- Make, build, install
- Work manually
- Develop and exploit natural resources
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Conventional
- People with this profile prefer specific, well-defined tasks. They like to respect the order of things and follow established rules.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
Official name of the NOC 94121
Pulp mill, papermaking and finishing machine operators
Job titles
- Mixing operator - pulp and paper
- Paper machine back tender
- Paper machine operator
- Wrapline operator - papermaking
- Sheeter operator - pulp and paper
- Assistant coating operator - pulp and paper
- Assistant digester operator - pulp and paper
- Chemi-thermomechanical pulp (ctmp) machine assistant operator
- Thermomechanical pulp assistant operator
- Assistant bleacher operator - pulp and paper
- Rag stock bleacher
- Winderman/woman - pulp and paper
- Paper machine winder
- Calenderer - pulp and paper
- Breaker - pulp and paper
- Grinder loader - pulp and paper
- Lime kiln operator - pulp and paper
- Grader - pulp and paper
- Paper grader
- Pulp grader
- Continuous digester operator - pulp and paper
- Core cutter and reamer - pulp and paper
- Cook - pulp and paper
- Digester cook - pulp and paper
- Pulp cook
- Continuous process cook - pulp and paper
- Batch process cook - pulp and paper
- Cook's first helper - pulp and paper
- Grinderman/woman - pulp and paper
- Paper machine second hand
- Sheet paper sampler
- Roll wrapper - paper
- Paper roll wrapper - pulp and paper
- Pulp maker
- Finisher - pulp and paper
- Roll finisher - paper
- Paper roll finisher - pulp and paper
- Baler - pulp and paper
- Sheet paper inspector
- Brown stock washer - pulp and paper
- Unbleached pulp washer - pulp and paper
- Stock washer - pulp and paper
- Pulp washer
- Bleach stock preparation operator - pulp and paper
- Chemical liquor preparation operator - pulp and paper
- Bleach field operator - pulp and paper
- Washing-screening operator - pulp and paper
- Recovery operator - pulp and paper
- Decker operator - pulp and paper
- Pulp mill equipment operator
- Chemical pulping plant operator - pulp and paper
- Winder operator - pulp and paper
- Calender operator - pulp and paper
- Embossing calender operator - pulp and paper
- Causticizer operator
- Combiner machine operator - paper mill
- Paper-coating machine operator
- Grinder operator - pulp and paper
- Paper jogger operation - pulp and paper
- Kiln-recaust operator - pulp and paper
- Supercalender operator - pulp and paper
- Digester operator - pulp and paper
- Brown stock operator - pulp and paper
- Batch digester operator
- Digester field operator
- Label operator - papermaking
- Tall oil operator
- Chemi-thermomechanical pulp (ctmp) operator
- Thermomechanical pulp operator
- Pulp mill machine operator
- Papermaking and finishing machine operator
- Paper-finishing machine operator
- Fourdrinier machine operator - pulp and paper
- Beater operator - pulp and paper
- Bleacher operator - pulp and paper
- Broke beater tender - pulp and paper
- Chemi-wash operator - pulp and paper
- Refiner operator - pulp and paper
- Pulp refiner operator - pulp and paper
- Specialty rewinder operator - papermaking
- Pulp dryer operator
- Crimping head operator - papermaking
- Repulper operator
- Field operator - pulp and paper
- Decker tender - pulp and paper
- Evaporator tender - pulp and paper
- Bleach boiler tender
- Filter operator - pulp and paper
- Blow pit tender - pulp and paper
- Paper machine hand
- Bleacher tender - pulp and paper
- Breaker tender - pulp and paper
- Baling press tender - pulp and paper
- Rewinder tender - pulp and paper
- Centri-cleaner tender - pulp and paper
- Digester tender - pulp and paper
- Lime sludge mixer
- Insulation board dryer tender
- Screen tender - pulp and paper
- Pulp and paper size maker
- Liquor maker - pulp and paper
- Wood pulp caustic liquor maker
- Pulp bleach liquor maker
- Acid maker - pulp and paper
- Packer-wrapper attendant - papermaking
- Pulp press operator
- Screen room operator - pulp and paper
- Fourth hand - pulp and paper
- Refiner - pulp and paper
- Rewinder - pulp and paper
- Processed paper rewinder
- Salvage winder operator - papermaking
- Third hand - pulp and paper
- Pulp tester - pulp and paper
- Paper pulp tester
- Pulpwood products tester
Skill type
Manufacturing and utilities
Last update: January 29, 2026
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