A look around the immediate environment presents us with the use of paper for diverse reasons ranging from official uses to non-official uses. Papers are everywhere in the form of books and other forms of prints. Papers are also used in different places ranging from offices to schools.
However, because the Paper Career is not widely known, it is typical to get questions like, “Is Paper a good career path?”. And this is where this guide steps in.
This article proposes to provide answers to the much-asked question, “Is Paper a good career path?” and also seeks to discuss eligibility criteria and how to launch a career in the paper.
Want to know more? Hop on the ride!
What is Paper?
Paper is obtained from fibers that are made from wood and chemically processed in water to create a thin sheet of material (paper).
Paper is used for various purposes ranging from Printing, Packaging, and Decorating way down to writing.
Paper is manufactured through a process known as Paper Engineering. In the process of Process Engineering, paper is Chemically pulped and mechanically pulped before it then finally undergoes the finishing process.
There are also different forms of paper some of which are:
- Bond Paper
- Watermarked Paper
- Recycled Paper
- Gloss Coated Paper
- Uncoated Paper
Is Paper a good career path?
For every question that goes, “Is Paper a good career path?”, the straightforward answer is yes. Paper is a very good career path.
Given its wide usage and high demand, Paper passes for a lucrative career path as it ticks almost all boxes. There are a variety of job opportunities in the Paper Industry most of which do not require impossible qualifications.
One can easily climb one professional ladder to the other and experience career advancement when one chooses a career in the paper and job security is assured.
So, Is Paper a good career path? Paper is not just a good career path but also a rewarding and lucrative career path.
Examples of Careers in Paper.
The following are examples of Careers in the Paper:
1. Paper Engineering
2. Product Engineering
3. Pulp and Paper Chemist
4. Sales Operations Management
5. Pulp and Paper Technologist.
Pros of a career in Paper
The following are advantages associated with pursuing a career in Paper:
1. Satisfactory Earnings
Workers in the pulp and paper industry usually earn satisfactorily as compensation and reward for the work they put in. This is one of the major reasons anyone trying to choose a career should consider the Paper career path.
2. Paid holidays and vacations
Workers in the Paper Industry also get to enjoy paid holidays and vacations depending on the company they get to work with and the skills, expertise, and qualifications possessed. This could serve as a turn-on for anyone trying to choose a career.
3. Availability of other forms of perks
Workers in the Paper Industry also get to enjoy other forms of perks which are also dependent on the skills, qualifications, and company they work for.
Cons of a career in Paper.
The following are disadvantages associated with pursuing a career in Paper:
1. Job Hazards
Just as with almost every manufacturing industry, the Paper Industry comes with its hazards resulting from the transformation of raw materials into a pulp and the handling of machines. Workers are open to these risks if not careful enough.
2. Long Working Hours
Some job positions on Paper Career require workers to put in long hours to beat deadlines, huge workloads, and consumer demand.
This could be a turnoff to anyone who doesn’t fancy putting in long hours.
Skills Required to succeed in Paper Career Path
The following are skills required to succeed in Paper:
1. Technical Skills
2. Attention to detail
3. Verbal Communication Skills
4. Safety Procedures
5. Basic Knowledge of Computers
6. Management and Leadership Skills
Education and Training Requirement for a career in Paper.
For a career in Paper, a minimum of a High School Diploma is necessary for employment. This is to show that prospective workers possess the minimum level of education required.
Asides from a High School Diploma, a Bachelor’s Degree in related fields such as Pulp and Paper Engineering, Wood Science, and Technology is also a requirement for a career in Paper.
Although what most Companies require of workers is a High School Diploma (given that their job positions are not advanced), a Bachelor’s degree is also important.
Also, a Master’s degree in relevant fields, although not mandatory, is a useful educational qualification for a successful career in Paper.
Salary and Job Outlook for a career in Paper.
Workers in the Paper Industry enjoy lucrative salaries that complement the work put in. Survey has shown that workers in the Paper Industry earn an average of $57 per hour and an average annual salary of $115,270.
The Paper Industry is projected to have a positive marketing position amidst other industries and also witness massive expansion over the next five years.
How Much Can You Make from a Career in Paper?
There is no limit to how much one can earn from a career in the paper. The amount one can make from Paper is dependent on the skills, educational qualification, company worked with and the job position one takes up.
However, one can earn quite satisfactory salaries from a career in Paper with advanced job positions and the necessary qualifications.
The estimated annual salary for workers in the Paper Industry is $115,270 inclusive of base pay and salaries. The average paper salary based on the department is $137,240. Other professionals can earn anything from $70,000 to $200,000.
List of Best Paying Jobs in Paper.
The following are carefully selected examples of best-paying jobs in Paper:
1. Packaging Engineer
Average Annual Salary: $86,000
2. Chemical Engineer
Average Annual Salary: $85,000
3. Sawmill Manager
Average Annual Salary: $80,000
4. Process Engineer
Average Annual Salary: $81,000
5. Forest Engineer
Average Annual Salary: $84,000
6. Manufacturing Manager
Average Annual Salary: $104,000
7. Quality Assurance Engineer
Average Annual Salary: $86,000
8. Industrial Hygienist
Average Annual Salary: $60,000
9. Manufacturing Engineer
Average Annual Salary: $76,000
10. Environmental Engineer
Average Annual Salary: $69,000
Companies in the Paper career path.
The following are top companies in the Paper career path around the globe:
1. International Paper
Boasting one of the top leading companies in the Paper Industry, International Paper is located in Tennessee, United States, and has a revenue of $19.36 billion. With approximately 56,000 employees, International Paper also boasts of being one of the top employers in the Paper Industry.
2. Oji Holdings Corporation
This is another top leading company in the paper industry that produces paper products. Oji Holdings Corporation ranked second on 2021’s list of top 10 paper-producing companies.
Oji Holdings Corporation is located in Tokyo, Japan, and has a revenue of $12.8 billion.
3. Stora Enso
Located in Helsinki, Finland, Stora Enso produces paper products and operates in more than 40 countries. It currently has well over 22,000 employees and a revenue of $10.67 billion.
4. WestRock
As of 2021, WestRock boasted the second-largest packaging company in the U.S thereby affirming it as one of the world’s largest paper and packaging companies.
WestRock is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and has a revenue of $18.7 billion.
5. Smurfit Kappa Group
Another world-leading company focused on paper-based packaging solutions and boasting over 48,000 employees, Smurfit Kappa Group is located in Dublin, Ireland, and has $11.96 billion in revenue.
How to Get Started in a Career in Paper.
To get started in a career in Paper after being sure that you want to pursue a career in Paper, the first thing to do is to get the needed skills and educational qualifications if not possessed. One can go ahead to bag a Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields such as Paper Engineering.
After getting certified, one can then go on to research companies in the Paper Industry that are hiring and then apply for a job position.
This way, one has launched a career in the paper.
FAQs on Is Paper a Good Career Path?
What are the top Institutions in the world where I can get certified in relevant degrees in Paper?
2. Germany Auburn University
3. USA University of Washington
What makes me Eligible for a career in Paper?
Are there opportunities for career advancement in the paper industry?
Conclusion
This article has successfully shed light and provided solutions to the popularly asked question, “Is Paper a good career path?”
A career in Paper is one of the paths to consider when choosing a career as it is not only rewarding but also quite lucrative. Workers in the Paper career path enjoy attractive salaries that come with bonuses.
Career advancement and diverse job opportunities await anyone who chooses to start a career in Paper (depending on their skills and qualifications, anyway). And given that the Pulp and Paper industry is also in high demand, prospective workers can be assured of job security.
There’s no better time to launch a career in Paper than now.
