Printing Press Operator Salary
Printing Press Operators earn a median $45,780 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$45,780
$22.01 per hour
Range
$33,330 – $63,520
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
144,260
across the U.S.
▲1.4%
Pay trend: The median for printing press operators in the U.S. rose from $45,160 (May 2024) to $45,780 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 1.0%.
What printing press operators do
Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -8.7% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 12,100
- Self-employed
- 2%
Employment of printing press operators is projected to shrink 8.7% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 12,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Printing Press Operator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$38,964
per year · effective tax rate 14.9%
$3,247Monthly
$1,624Twice a month
$1,499Every 2 weeks
$18.73Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,314
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,838
- Medicare (1.45%)$664
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$38,964
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,330 | $16.02 | $28,961 |
| 25th percentile | $37,390 | $17.98 | $32,223 |
| Median (50th) | $45,780 | $22.01 | $38,964 |
| 75th percentile | $55,740 | $26.80 | $46,967 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,520 | $30.54 | $53,218 |
Best cities for printing press operators (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee, WI | $47,400 | $38,961 | $40,192 | 2,590 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $48,610 | $39,746 | $38,756 | 2,910 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $50,170 | $40,603 | $38,736 | 3,390 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $45,670 | $38,876 | $37,711 | 3,880 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | $44,610 | $36,332 | $36,311 | 2,650 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $46,580 | $37,446 | $36,147 | 7,790 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $49,620 | $39,967 | $35,507 | 6,700 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $46,200 | $37,864 | $33,341 | 6,140 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Minneapolis, MN — $50,170
- New York, NY — $49,620
- Philadelphia, PA — $48,610
- Milwaukee, WI — $47,400
- Chicago, IL — $46,580
- Los Angeles, CA — $46,200
- Dallas, TX — $45,670
- Atlanta, GA — $44,610
Printing Press Operator salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $116,630 | +0.7% | $83,934 | $48,840 – $138,590 | 350 |
| Massachusetts | $53,050 | +7.8% | $42,373 | $39,430 – $75,310 | 2,110 |
| New Jersey | $50,430 | −2.6% | $41,462 | $37,900 – $77,550 | 4,180 |
| Washington | $49,800 | +1.2% | $42,194 | $39,660 – $70,030 | 2,310 |
| Oregon | $48,760 | +1.8% | $37,922 | $37,270 – $63,510 | 1,330 |
| Minnesota | $48,560 | −2.0% | $39,419 | $36,950 – $73,670 | 4,960 |
| New Hampshire | $48,410 | +2.3% | $41,077 | $34,790 – $69,780 | 680 |
| Kentucky | $48,000 | +5.4% | $39,186 | $34,920 – $63,720 | 2,470 |
| Colorado | $47,860 | +1.2% | $39,238 | $37,400 – $63,270 | 1,830 |
| New York | $47,860 | +2.7% | $38,648 | $34,910 – $69,880 | 6,700 |
| Maryland | $47,840 | −3.3% | $38,711 | $35,690 – $64,160 | 1,250 |
| Maine | $47,430 | +6.4% | $38,270 | $37,710 – $62,150 | 300 |
| Wisconsin | $47,330 | −1.3% | $38,908 | $36,980 – $65,260 | 8,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,010 | +1.0% | $38,509 | $34,850 – $63,690 | 7,150 |
| Arkansas | $46,470 | −3.8% | $37,919 | $28,540 – $64,060 | 1,760 |
| Alaska | $46,460 | +4.4% | $39,511 | $30,660 – $65,440 | 170 |
| Vermont | $46,460 | −0.8% | $38,388 | $37,040 – $70,990 | 190 |
| Illinois | $46,260 | −2.0% | $37,205 | $31,450 – $66,250 | 9,550 |
| Missouri | $46,130 | +5.5% | $38,015 | $32,560 – $66,640 | 3,460 |
| California | $46,110 | +0.2% | $37,796 | $36,580 – $63,910 | 12,320 |
| Ohio | $45,760 | +1.1% | $38,472 | $32,430 – $60,600 | 7,500 |
| Connecticut | $45,670 | +4.0% | $37,746 | $36,080 – $64,880 | 1,610 |
| North Carolina | $45,630 | +5.9% | $37,532 | $29,600 – $62,010 | 3,910 |
| Hawaii | $45,390 | +18.2% | $36,699 | $29,120 – $64,700 | 350 |
| Rhode Island | $45,380 | −6.1% | $37,558 | $40,360 – $71,780 | 510 |
| Michigan | $45,280 | −1.3% | $36,889 | $31,190 – $63,220 | 5,110 |
| Indiana | $45,230 | −1.1% | $37,218 | $34,820 – $61,330 | 4,820 |
| South Dakota | $44,930 | +5.5% | $38,281 | $33,980 – $63,800 | 460 |
| Delaware | $44,600 | −2.9% | $36,218 | $35,160 – $59,530 | 210 |
| Virginia | $44,020 | +2.9% | $35,833 | $30,530 – $64,020 | 3,210 |
| Nevada | $43,500 | +5.4% | $37,132 | $36,300 – $62,800 | 1,360 |
| Tennessee | $43,160 | +4.8% | $36,859 | $30,870 – $58,310 | 3,510 |
| Arizona | $42,950 | +2.5% | $35,825 | $35,800 – $60,700 | 2,400 |
| Texas | $42,550 | +6.4% | $36,369 | $29,540 – $61,160 | 9,110 |
| Montana | $42,220 | +9.3% | $34,876 | $31,200 – $57,990 | 300 |
| Nebraska | $42,070 | +2.7% | $34,949 | $36,670 – $59,190 | 2,140 |
| Kansas | $41,890 | +3.2% | $34,301 | $27,980 – $58,410 | 2,640 |
| Georgia | $41,520 | −3.0% | $34,009 | $28,860 – $60,690 | 4,220 |
| West Virginia | $41,200 | −1.1% | $34,145 | $25,780 – $65,220 | 470 |
| Florida | $41,180 | +6.4% | $35,268 | $30,490 – $60,130 | 7,060 |
| Utah | $41,030 | +3.2% | $34,267 | $31,200 – $61,200 | 1,970 |
| Iowa | $40,790 | +2.8% | $34,057 | $30,130 – $59,190 | 2,070 |
| Wyoming | $40,760 | −1.6% | $34,931 | $27,750 – $60,570 | 90 |
| South Carolina | $40,470 | +6.3% | $33,427 | $29,490 – $59,010 | 2,100 |
| Idaho | $38,650 | +3.6% | $32,295 | $30,240 – $56,510 | 610 |
| Mississippi | $38,400 | −1.5% | $32,230 | $25,920 – $60,010 | 670 |
| North Dakota | $37,850 | −1.8% | $32,592 | $30,700 – $57,100 | 270 |
| Louisiana | $37,650 | +2.3% | $31,689 | $26,580 – $58,090 | 870 |
| New Mexico | $37,110 | +4.9% | $31,369 | $30,440 – $58,230 | 250 |
| Oklahoma | $36,760 | +4.2% | $30,608 | $26,700 – $50,440 | 1,140 |
| Alabama | $36,670 | +4.8% | $30,076 | $24,260 – $55,830 | 2,160 |
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a printing press operator make?
The national median salary for printing press operators is $45,780 a year ($22.01 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,330 and the top 10% earn over $63,520. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays printing press operators the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $116,630. After taxes and local prices, Milwaukee, WI offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many printing press operators are there in the U.S.?
About 144,260 people work as printing press operators nationwide.