ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Collator Operator Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

All JobsCollator Operator JobsCollator Operator Jobs in Illinois

Collator Operator information

See Illinois salary details

$12

$20

$30

How much do collator operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 29, 2026, the average hourly pay for collator operator in Illinois is $20.96, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.82 and $21.44 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a collator operator do?

A collator operator assembles and organizes printed materials, such as pages or documents, into proper order using collating machines or manual methods. They ensure accuracy and quality in the final product, often working in print shops or mailing facilities, and may need basic technical skills and attention to detail.

What jobs make $3,000 a day?

Jobs that can pay $3,000 a day typically include high-level roles such as specialized surgeons, senior corporate executives, or successful entrepreneurs. Certain skilled trades, like commercial pilots or experienced project managers in large projects, may also reach this level with bonuses or overtime. These positions often require advanced certifications, extensive experience, or ownership of a business.

What is a Collator Operator?

A Collator Operator is a skilled worker responsible for setting up, operating, and maintaining collating machines, which assemble printed materials, such as books, pamphlets, or magazines, in the correct sequence. They ensure that pages are properly aligned and ordered before binding or packaging. Collator Operators also inspect finished products for quality, troubleshoot machine issues, and may perform minor repairs or adjustments as needed.

What is a folding operator?

A folding operator in the context of a collator operator refers to a machine component or process that folds or creases paper or printed materials during finishing. It is used to create folded documents, brochures, or booklets efficiently, often as part of a finishing or binding process in print production. Operating this equipment requires attention to detail and understanding of folding patterns to ensure accurate results.

What is the highest paid machine operator?

The highest paid machine operators are often those working in specialized industries such as oil and gas, aerospace, or manufacturing, with roles like CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine operators or heavy equipment operators. These positions typically require advanced skills, certifications, and experience, and can earn significantly higher wages compared to general machine operators.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Collator Operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Collator Operator, you need a solid understanding of mechanical equipment, attention to detail, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with collating machines, basic computer systems, and occasionally inventory or production software is typically required. Strong organizational skills, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are important soft skills in this position. These skills ensure efficient operation, minimal downtime, and high-quality output in fast-paced printing or manufacturing environments.

What is the difference between Collator Operator vs Inserter Operator?

AspectCollator OperatorInserter Operator
CredentialsHigh school diploma, on-the-job trainingHigh school diploma, on-the-job training
Work EnvironmentPrinting plants, mailing facilitiesMailing centers, printing facilities
Industry UsagePrinting and mailing industryMailing and fulfillment industry
Job FocusAssembling printed materials into sorted groupsInserting documents into envelopes or packages

Both Collator Operators and Inserter Operators work in printing and mailing environments, often within the same industry. While Collator Operators focus on sorting and assembling printed materials, Inserter Operators handle inserting documents into envelopes or packages. Understanding these differences helps job seekers find the right role based on their skills and interests.

What are some common challenges faced by Collator Operators and how can they be addressed?

Collator Operators often encounter challenges such as machine jams, misfeeds, and maintaining consistent output quality on tight deadlines. Staying proactive with regular machine maintenance, closely monitoring feed mechanisms, and promptly addressing any misalignments can help minimize downtime. Additionally, effective communication with team members and supervisors ensures that any production issues are quickly resolved. Continuous learning about new equipment and process improvements also helps operators adapt to changes and advance in their careers.

What Is the Job of a Collator Operator?

A collator operator maintains and operates the machine used to assemble pages in numerical sequence for printed material. Your duties in this career are to place pages in holding trays, start the machine, and remove assembled pages. You handle assembling the final product, which includes stapling, gluing, folding, and cutting the sheets of paper. Your responsibilities also include performing safety inspections, adjusting the control that regulates the stroke of the paper pusher, assessing speed for the machine according to the size of the sheet, checking for accuracy of the final product, making corrections as needed, and troubleshooting any printing issues. A collator operator typically works in printing and bookbinding.

More about Collator Operator jobs
What are popular job titles related to Collator Operator jobs in Illinois? For Collator Operator jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Collator Operator jobs in Illinois look for? The top searched job categories for Collator Operator jobs in Illinois are:
What are popular job titles related to Collator Operator jobs in IL? For Collator Operator jobs in IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Collator Operator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Collator Operator job openings in Illinois as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% As Needed, 15% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 10% Temporary, 35% Contract, and 32% Nights. Highlights an 20% Physical, 16% Hybrid, and 64% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,588 per year, or $21 per hour.
Entry Level Machine Operator - 1st Shift

Entry Level Machine Operator - 1st Shift

Perfect Plastic Printing Corp

Saint Charles, IL • On-site

$17/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

POSITION TITLE: MACHINE OPERATOR II (BURKLE)
Current Shift Availability: 1st Shift - Monday - Thursday 5:00 am - 3:30 pm. This is a full time, 40 hour per week position with full benefits offered (i.e. Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k Match, EAP and more). We foster an exceptional work environment with regular employee engagement/appreciation events, luncheons, growth opportunities, temperature controlled and clean work environment.
This position starts at $17.00/hour.
This is an entry level Machine Operator position, with the opportunity to learn several additional machines over time. Each new machine learned has an associated step raise included. If you are interested in personal and mechanical growth, this could be a great fit for you. If you are interested in the position below, feel free to apply.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
  1. Follow all applicable sop’s (standard operating procedures).
  2. Receives job ticket and/or verbal instructions.
  3. Locates job, either in holding area or from collator.
  4. Reads and understands ticket, proof and verbal instructions; loads station accordingly.
  5. Follow first piece procedure or lamination test procedure.
  6. Maintains all quality procedures and maintains accurate records.
  7. Maintain correct plate handling and sheet guidance methods, as defined by scratch prevention training in sop m0314.
  8. Responsible to understand and maintain sop m0316, quality standards thereof.
  9. Use cotton gloves to protect plates from prints.
  10. Identify the load by writing down the job number. If the load consists of more than one job, identify the load accordingly.
  11. Performs other duties as required by shift supervisor.
  12. Enters accurate information into the m.i.s. As required.
  13. Able to maintain consistent production results per scheduled requirements.
  14. Alerts shift supervisor of any burke system problems, i.e. malfunctions, etc.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
  1. Standing throughout most of the shift
  2. Constant lateral arm movement (only stop is break and lunch).
  3. Constantly moving a wheeled cart
  4. Lifting 50-70 lbs (infrequent basis)
  5. Must have good communication skills (reasonably proficient at reading and speaking English)
  6. Basic knowledge about computers.
  7. Basic technical knowledge.
About us: Perfect Plastic Printing has been family owned since 1965 – we are a top 5 card manufacturer in the world, serving financial institutions both large and small. As a family owned company we have established a reputation as a valued service provider with dedicated customer service from concept to delivery. We are committed to making the highest quality plastic cards, a commitment we have kept for 55 years. We have built a reputation for loyalty to our customers by striving to be the best at producing consistently high quality cards, in volume, and with a demonstrated track record of on-time deliveries.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Apply