Printing Press Operator Salary in Des Moines, IA
Printing Press Operators in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $43,450 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,093 take-home, or $3,008 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median printing press operator salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,034
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,694
- Medicare (1.45%)$630
- Iowa income tax$999
- Take-home pay$36,093
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Printing Press Operator pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,610 | $15.20 | $27,029 | $2,252 |
| 25th percentile | $36,030 | $17.32 | $30,413 | $2,534 |
| Median (50th) | $43,450 | $20.89 | $36,093 | $3,008 |
| 75th percentile | $50,020 | $24.05 | $41,122 | $3,427 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,590 | $28.65 | $48,448 | $4,037 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,450 buys in Des Moines, IA
Prices in Des Moines, IA are 8.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median printing press operator's $36,093 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,359 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Des Moines, IA has 1.4× the national concentration of printing press operator jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for printing press operators, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #25 of 66 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oshkosh, WI | $58,750 | $47,582 | $51,202 |
| 2 | Fayetteville, AR | $49,840 | $40,495 | $44,328 |
| 3 | Cincinnati, OH | $48,890 | $40,901 | $42,887 |
| 4 | Louisville, KY | $48,110 | $39,270 | $42,192 |
| 5 | Green Bay, WI | $47,330 | $38,908 | $41,798 |
| 6 | Dayton, OH | $45,760 | $38,472 | $41,504 |
| 7 | Scranton, PA | $47,340 | $38,764 | $41,434 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $46,560 | $38,340 | $41,429 |
| 25 | Des Moines, IA | $43,450 | $36,093 | $39,359 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 66 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a printing press operator make in Des Moines, IA?
The median printing press operator salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $43,450 a year, or about $20.89 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,030 and $50,020.
What is a printing press operator’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $43,450 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $36,093 a year ($3,008 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $999 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a printing press operator?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $45,780. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,359 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #25 of 66 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a printing press operator afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Des Moines, IA is $1,092 a month ($1,302 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median printing press operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $71,150
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $59,980
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $51,100
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $50,850
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $48,700
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $47,880
- Food Batchmaker — $47,010
- Production Workers, All Other — $40,660
- Baker — $37,680
- Butcher and Meat Cutter — $36,770
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker — $34,380