Printing Press Operator Salary in St. Louis, MO
Printing Press Operators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $47,710 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,210 take-home, or $3,267 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median printing press operator salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,545
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,958
- Medicare (1.45%)$692
- Missouri income tax$1,305
- Take-home pay$39,210
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Printing Press Operator pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,340 | $17.47 | $30,609 | $2,551 |
| 25th percentile | $39,770 | $19.12 | $33,203 | $2,767 |
| Median (50th) | $47,710 | $22.94 | $39,210 | $3,267 |
| 75th percentile | $58,910 | $28.32 | $47,683 | $3,974 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,720 | $34.48 | $56,852 | $4,738 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,710 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median printing press operator's $39,210 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,235 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
St. Louis, MO has 1.3× 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
St. Louis, MO ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | St. Louis, MO | $47,710 | $39,210 | $41,235 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 66 metros →
Printing Press Operator salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $46,560
Frequently asked questions
How much does a printing press operator make in St. Louis, MO?
The median printing press operator salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $47,710 a year, or about $22.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,770 and $58,910.
What is a printing press operator’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $47,710 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $39,210 a year ($3,267 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,305 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a printing press operator?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $45,780. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,235 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #10 of 66 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a printing press operator afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median printing press operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
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- Machinist — $62,210
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $62,090
- Tool and Die Maker — $59,610
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $57,850
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $56,320
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $54,610
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $53,500
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- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $52,630
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $52,310
- Food Batchmaker — $52,000