51 Series · SOC 51-5112
Printing Press Operators Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $45,780
- Median / year
- $63,520
- Top 10% earn
- -8.1%
- Growth '23–'33
- 144,260
- US workers
Printing Press Operators earn a median of $45,780 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $45,780, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $33,330 (10th percentile) to $63,520 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 144,260 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($116,630), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Printing Press Operators earn a median of $45,780, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 21% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #65 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 8.1% by 2033.
- $45,780
- Median annual wage
- Top 79%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #65 of 105
- in Production
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $116,630. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Printing Press Operators (SOC 51-5112) pays a national median of $45,780 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $33,330 at the 10th percentile to $63,520 at the 90th, with a mean of $47,360 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 144,260 Americans work in this occupation across 53 reporting states and 406 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -8.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 13,700 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $116,630, which is +155% above the national figure. The top metro is Harrisonburg, VA at $64,180 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 144,260 jobs Median $45,780/yr
Median Salary
$45,780
per year
Median Hourly
$22.01/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$47,360
average
Employment
144,260
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Printing Press Operators pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$45,780 Bottom 21% higher than 21% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Printing Press Operators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 22 51-series occupations with growth data, Printing Press Operators sits on the slower-growing side at -8.1% growth and $45,780 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-8.1%
Declining
Annual Openings
13,700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Printing Press Operators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Quality Control Analysis 3.9
Operations Monitoring 3.6
Monitoring 3.3
Operation and Control 3.3
Reading Comprehension 3.1
Active Listening 3.1
Speaking 3.1
Critical Thinking 3.1
Equipment Maintenance 3.1
Troubleshooting 3.1
Knowledge Areas
Mechanical 3.8
Production and Processing 3.7
Customer and Personal Service 2.9
English Language 2.8
Computers and Electronics 2.8
Mathematics 2.7
Chemistry 2.5
Public Safety and Security 2.1
Administration and Management 2.1
Education and Training 2.1
Key Tasks
- ▸ Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration.
- ▸ Examine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions.
- ▸ Adjust ink fountain flow rates.
- ▸ Verify that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job.
- ▸ Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments.
- ▸ Feed paper through press cylinders and adjust feed and tension controls.
- ▸ Monitor automated press operation systems and respond to fault, error, or alert messages.
- ▸ Load presses with paper and make necessary adjustments, according to paper size.
- ▸ Secure printing plates to printing units and adjust tolerances.
- ▸ Download or scan files to be printed, using printing production software.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$33,330
25th Percentile
$37,390
Median
$45,780
75th Percentile
$55,740
90th Percentile
$63,520
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 53 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $116,630 | +155% above national |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $53,050 | +16% above national |
| 3 | New Jersey | $50,430 | +10% above national |
| 4 | Washington | $49,800 | +9% above national |
| 5 | Oregon | $48,760 | +7% above national |
| 6 | Minnesota | $48,560 | +6% above national |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $48,410 | +6% above national |
| 8 | Kentucky | $48,000 | +5% above national |
| 9 | Colorado | $47,860 | +5% above national |
| 10 | New York | $47,860 | +5% above national |
| 11 | Maryland | $47,840 | +4% above national |
| 12 | Maine | $47,430 | +4% above national |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $47,330 | +3% above national |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $47,010 | +3% above national |
| 15 | Arkansas | $46,470 | +2% above national |
| 16 | Alaska | $46,460 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Vermont | $46,460 | +1% above national |
| 18 | Illinois | $46,260 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Missouri | $46,130 | +1% above national |
| 20 | California | $46,110 | +1% above national |
| 21 | Ohio | $45,760 | same as national |
| 22 | Connecticut | $45,670 | same as national |
| 23 | North Carolina | $45,630 | same as national |
| 24 | Hawaii | $45,390 | 1% below national |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $45,380 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Michigan | $45,280 | 1% below national |
| 27 | Indiana | $45,230 | 1% below national |
| 28 | South Dakota | $44,930 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Delaware | $44,600 | 3% below national |
| 30 | Virginia | $44,020 | 4% below national |
| 31 | Nevada | $43,500 | 5% below national |
| 32 | Tennessee | $43,160 | 6% below national |
| 33 | Arizona | $42,950 | 6% below national |
| 34 | Texas | $42,550 | 7% below national |
| 35 | Montana | $42,220 | 8% below national |
| 36 | Nebraska | $42,070 | 8% below national |
| 37 | Kansas | $41,890 | 8% below national |
| 38 | Georgia | $41,520 | 9% below national |
| 39 | West Virginia | $41,200 | 10% below national |
| 40 | Florida | $41,180 | 10% below national |
| 41 | Utah | $41,030 | 10% below national |
| 42 | Iowa | $40,790 | 11% below national |
| 43 | Wyoming | $40,760 | 11% below national |
| 44 | South Carolina | $40,470 | 12% below national |
| 45 | Idaho | $38,650 | 16% below national |
| 46 | Mississippi | $38,400 | 16% below national |
| 47 | North Dakota | $37,850 | 17% below national |
| 48 | Louisiana | $37,650 | 18% below national |
| 49 | New Mexico | $37,110 | 19% below national |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $36,760 | 20% below national |
| 51 | Alabama | $36,670 | 20% below national |
| 52 | Guam | $32,240 | 30% below national |
| 53 | Puerto Rico | $26,100 | 43% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 406 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harrisonburg, VA | $64,180 | +40% above national |
| 2 | Rochester, MN | $59,200 | +29% above national |
| 3 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $58,850 | +29% above national |
| 4 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $58,750 | +28% above national |
| 5 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $57,960 | +27% above national |
| 6 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $56,350 | +23% above national |
| 7 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $55,920 | +22% above national |
| 8 | Springfield, MA | $55,740 | +22% above national |
| 9 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $54,230 | +18% above national |
| 10 | Worcester, MA | $53,210 | +16% above national |
| 11 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $52,190 | +14% above national |
| 12 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $52,180 | +14% above national |
| 13 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $52,040 | +14% above national |
| 14 | Wichita Falls, TX | $51,510 | +13% above national |
| 15 | Wausau, WI | $50,650 | +11% above national |
| 16 | Merced, CA | $50,640 | +11% above national |
| 17 | Kenosha, WI | $50,540 | +10% above national |
| 18 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $50,340 | +10% above national |
| 19 | Fond du Lac, WI | $50,310 | +10% above national |
| 20 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $50,280 | +10% above national |
| 21 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $50,170 | +10% above national |
| 22 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $50,030 | +9% above national |
| 23 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $49,840 | +9% above national |
| 24 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $49,750 | +9% above national |
| 25 | Visalia, CA | $49,680 | +9% above national |
| 26 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $49,670 | +8% above national |
| 27 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $49,620 | +8% above national |
| 28 | Jefferson City, MO | $49,610 | +8% above national |
| 29 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $49,490 | +8% above national |
| 30 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $49,400 | +8% above national |
| 31 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $49,390 | +8% above national |
| 32 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $49,320 | +8% above national |
| 33 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $49,230 | +8% above national |
| 34 | St. Cloud, MN | $49,220 | +8% above national |
| 35 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $49,210 | +7% above national |
| 36 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $49,040 | +7% above national |
| 37 | Bismarck, ND | $49,020 | +7% above national |
| 38 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $48,980 | +7% above national |
| 39 | Boulder, CO | $48,910 | +7% above national |
| 40 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $48,890 | +7% above national |
| 41 | Paducah, KY-IL | $48,890 | +7% above national |
| 42 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $48,860 | +7% above national |
| 43 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $48,830 | +7% above national |
| 44 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $48,810 | +7% above national |
| 45 | Evansville, IN | $48,770 | +7% above national |
| 46 | Reno, NV | $48,700 | +6% above national |
| 47 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $48,660 | +6% above national |
| 48 | Burlington, NC | $48,650 | +6% above national |
| 49 | Lancaster, PA | $48,650 | +6% above national |
| 50 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $48,620 | +6% above national |
| 51 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $48,610 | +6% above national |
| 52 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $48,610 | +6% above national |
| 53 | Napa, CA | $48,600 | +6% above national |
| 54 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $48,570 | +6% above national |
| 55 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $48,520 | +6% above national |
| 56 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $48,520 | +6% above national |
| 57 | Syracuse, NY | $48,510 | +6% above national |
| 58 | Bellingham, WA | $48,420 | +6% above national |
| 59 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $48,260 | +5% above national |
| 60 | Salem, OR | $48,190 | +5% above national |
| 61 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $48,110 | +5% above national |
| 62 | Winchester, VA-WV | $48,020 | +5% above national |
| 63 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $47,950 | +5% above national |
| 64 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $47,910 | +5% above national |
| 65 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $47,880 | +5% above national |
| 66 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $47,810 | +4% above national |
| 67 | Iowa City, IA | $47,780 | +4% above national |
| 68 | Medford, OR | $47,780 | +4% above national |
| 69 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $47,730 | +4% above national |
| 70 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $47,730 | +4% above national |
| 71 | Rochester, NY | $47,720 | +4% above national |
| 72 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,710 | +4% above national |
| 73 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $47,700 | +4% above national |
| 74 | Roanoke, VA | $47,630 | +4% above national |
| 75 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $47,570 | +4% above national |
| 76 | Yakima, WA | $47,540 | +4% above national |
| 77 | Asheville, NC | $47,440 | +4% above national |
| 78 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $47,400 | +4% above national |
| 79 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $47,400 | +4% above national |
| 80 | New Haven, CT | $47,390 | +4% above national |
| 81 | Lebanon, PA | $47,380 | +3% above national |
| 82 | York-Hanover, PA | $47,370 | +3% above national |
| 83 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $47,340 | +3% above national |
| 84 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $47,340 | +3% above national |
| 85 | Green Bay, WI | $47,330 | +3% above national |
| 86 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $47,320 | +3% above national |
| 87 | Bozeman, MT | $47,300 | +3% above national |
| 88 | Gainesville, GA | $47,240 | +3% above national |
| 89 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $47,240 | +3% above national |
| 90 | Reading, PA | $47,240 | +3% above national |
| 91 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $47,230 | +3% above national |
| 92 | Sheboygan, WI | $47,220 | +3% above national |
| 93 | Pittsburgh, PA | $47,150 | +3% above national |
| 94 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $47,110 | +3% above national |
| 95 | Greenville, NC | $47,030 | +3% above national |
| 96 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $47,030 | +3% above national |
| 97 | Madison, WI | $47,020 | +3% above national |
| 98 | Columbus, OH | $46,950 | +3% above national |
| 99 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $46,900 | +2% above national |
| 100 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $46,870 | +2% above national |
| 101 | Bend, OR | $46,870 | +2% above national |
| 102 | Anchorage, AK | $46,860 | +2% above national |
| 103 | Ames, IA | $46,850 | +2% above national |
| 104 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $46,850 | +2% above national |
| 105 | Rome, GA | $46,850 | +2% above national |
| 106 | Ann Arbor, MI | $46,800 | +2% above national |
| 107 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $46,700 | +2% above national |
| 108 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $46,690 | +2% above national |
| 109 | Modesto, CA | $46,670 | +2% above national |
| 110 | Joplin, MO-KS | $46,660 | +2% above national |
| 111 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $46,640 | +2% above national |
| 112 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $46,600 | +2% above national |
| 113 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $46,580 | +2% above national |
| 114 | Williamsport, PA | $46,570 | +2% above national |
| 115 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $46,560 | +2% above national |
| 116 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $46,560 | +2% above national |
| 117 | Gettysburg, PA | $46,520 | +2% above national |
| 118 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $46,480 | +2% above national |
| 119 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $46,470 | +2% above national |
| 120 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $46,460 | +1% above national |
| 121 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,440 | +1% above national |
| 122 | Winston-Salem, NC | $46,430 | +1% above national |
| 123 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $46,380 | +1% above national |
| 124 | Fort Wayne, IN | $46,360 | +1% above national |
| 125 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $46,270 | +1% above national |
| 126 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $46,220 | +1% above national |
| 127 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,200 | +1% above national |
| 128 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $46,110 | +1% above national |
| 129 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,110 | +1% above national |
| 130 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $46,110 | +1% above national |
| 131 | Spartanburg, SC | $46,100 | +1% above national |
| 132 | Appleton, WI | $46,090 | +1% above national |
| 133 | Glens Falls, NY | $46,060 | +1% above national |
| 134 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $45,960 | same as national |
| 135 | Knoxville, TN | $45,920 | same as national |
| 136 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $45,870 | same as national |
| 137 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $45,820 | same as national |
| 138 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $45,820 | same as national |
| 139 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $45,810 | same as national |
| 140 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $45,800 | same as national |
| 141 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $45,790 | same as national |
| 142 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $45,760 | same as national |
| 143 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $45,760 | same as national |
| 144 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $45,670 | same as national |
| 145 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $45,670 | same as national |
| 146 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $45,640 | same as national |
| 147 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $45,600 | same as national |
| 148 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $45,600 | same as national |
| 149 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $45,590 | same as national |
| 150 | Eau Claire, WI | $45,550 | 1% below national |
| 151 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $45,540 | 1% below national |
| 152 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $45,530 | 1% below national |
| 153 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $45,480 | 1% below national |
| 154 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $45,450 | 1% below national |
| 155 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $45,430 | 1% below national |
| 156 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $45,430 | 1% below national |
| 157 | Chambersburg, PA | $45,390 | 1% below national |
| 158 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $45,390 | 1% below national |
| 159 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $45,390 | 1% below national |
| 160 | Charlottesville, VA | $45,340 | 1% below national |
| 161 | Vallejo, CA | $45,240 | 1% below national |
| 162 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $45,220 | 1% below national |
| 163 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $45,210 | 1% below national |
| 164 | Columbia, MO | $45,170 | 1% below national |
| 165 | Terre Haute, IN | $45,150 | 1% below national |
| 166 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $45,140 | 1% below national |
| 167 | Bowling Green, KY | $45,100 | 1% below national |
| 168 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $45,100 | 1% below national |
| 169 | Fresno, CA | $45,060 | 2% below national |
| 170 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $45,050 | 2% below national |
| 171 | Duluth, MN-WI | $45,040 | 2% below national |
| 172 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $45,030 | 2% below national |
| 173 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $45,010 | 2% below national |
| 174 | Decatur, IL | $44,980 | 2% below national |
| 175 | Mankato, MN | $44,980 | 2% below national |
| 176 | Topeka, KS | $44,970 | 2% below national |
| 177 | Utica-Rome, NY | $44,920 | 2% below national |
| 178 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,890 | 2% below national |
| 179 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $44,880 | 2% below national |
| 180 | Lynchburg, VA | $44,880 | 2% below national |
| 181 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $44,880 | 2% below national |
| 182 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $44,860 | 2% below national |
| 183 | Battle Creek, MI | $44,830 | 2% below national |
| 184 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $44,810 | 2% below national |
| 185 | Cleveland, OH | $44,760 | 2% below national |
| 186 | Peoria, IL | $44,750 | 2% below national |
| 187 | Jacksonville, FL | $44,670 | 2% below national |
| 188 | Akron, OH | $44,650 | 2% below national |
| 189 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $44,650 | 2% below national |
| 190 | Rocky Mount, NC | $44,640 | 2% below national |
| 191 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $44,630 | 3% below national |
| 192 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $44,610 | 3% below national |
| 193 | Altoona, PA | $44,580 | 3% below national |
| 194 | Chico, CA | $44,550 | 3% below national |
| 195 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $44,550 | 3% below national |
| 196 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $44,530 | 3% below national |
| 197 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $44,510 | 3% below national |
| 198 | Greeley, CO | $44,410 | 3% below national |
| 199 | Springfield, MO | $44,410 | 3% below national |
| 200 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $44,400 | 3% below national |
| 201 | Traverse City, MI | $44,380 | 3% below national |
| 202 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $44,340 | 3% below national |
| 203 | Jonesboro, AR | $44,300 | 3% below national |
| 204 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $44,300 | 3% below national |
| 205 | Columbia, SC | $44,250 | 3% below national |
| 206 | Midland, MI | $44,250 | 3% below national |
| 207 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $44,190 | 3% below national |
| 208 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $44,140 | 4% below national |
| 209 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,130 | 4% below national |
| 210 | Richmond, VA | $44,110 | 4% below national |
| 211 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $44,080 | 4% below national |
| 212 | Las Cruces, NM | $44,060 | 4% below national |
| 213 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $44,030 | 4% below national |
| 214 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $44,020 | 4% below national |
| 215 | Morristown, TN | $43,990 | 4% below national |
| 216 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $43,990 | 4% below national |
| 217 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $43,950 | 4% below national |
| 218 | Jackson, MS | $43,820 | 4% below national |
| 219 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $43,780 | 4% below national |
| 220 | Helena, MT | $43,770 | 4% below national |
| 221 | Flint, MI | $43,650 | 5% below national |
| 222 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $43,640 | 5% below national |
| 223 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $43,600 | 5% below national |
| 224 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $43,590 | 5% below national |
| 225 | Punta Gorda, FL | $43,590 | 5% below national |
| 226 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $43,580 | 5% below national |
| 227 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $43,500 | 5% below national |
| 228 | Grand Junction, CO | $43,490 | 5% below national |
| 229 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $43,480 | 5% below national |
| 230 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $43,450 | 5% below national |
| 231 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $43,450 | 5% below national |
| 232 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $43,440 | 5% below national |
| 233 | Mansfield, OH | $43,200 | 6% below national |
| 234 | Missoula, MT | $43,160 | 6% below national |
| 235 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $42,970 | 6% below national |
| 236 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $42,950 | 6% below national |
| 237 | Rockford, IL | $42,920 | 6% below national |
| 238 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $42,900 | 6% below national |
| 239 | Tucson, AZ | $42,900 | 6% below national |
| 240 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $42,890 | 6% below national |
| 241 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $42,750 | 7% below national |
| 242 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $42,740 | 7% below national |
| 243 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $42,740 | 7% below national |
| 244 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $42,570 | 7% below national |
| 245 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $42,540 | 7% below national |
| 246 | Bloomington, IN | $42,510 | 7% below national |
| 247 | Colorado Springs, CO | $42,470 | 7% below national |
| 248 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $42,380 | 7% below national |
| 249 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $42,340 | 8% below national |
| 250 | Fayetteville, NC | $42,250 | 8% below national |
| 251 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $42,240 | 8% below national |
| 252 | Longview, TX | $42,220 | 8% below national |
| 253 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $42,150 | 8% below national |
| 254 | Omaha, NE-IA | $42,070 | 8% below national |
| 255 | Lawrence, KS | $41,890 | 8% below national |
| 256 | Amarillo, TX | $41,850 | 9% below national |
| 257 | Monroe, LA | $41,400 | 10% below national |
| 258 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $41,290 | 10% below national |
| 259 | Baton Rouge, LA | $41,160 | 10% below national |
| 260 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $41,010 | 10% below national |
| 261 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $40,940 | 11% below national |
| 262 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $40,830 | 11% below national |
| 263 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $40,800 | 11% below national |
| 264 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $40,620 | 11% below national |
| 265 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $40,610 | 11% below national |
| 266 | Dubuque, IA | $40,560 | 11% below national |
| 267 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $40,540 | 11% below national |
| 268 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $40,180 | 12% below national |
| 269 | Sandusky, OH | $40,130 | 12% below national |
| 270 | Niles, MI | $40,070 | 12% below national |
| 271 | Toledo, OH | $40,050 | 13% below national |
| 272 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $40,030 | 13% below national |
| 273 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $40,000 | 13% below national |
| 274 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $40,000 | 13% below national |
| 275 | Lincoln, NE | $39,900 | 13% below national |
| 276 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $39,840 | 13% below national |
| 277 | Logan, UT-ID | $39,820 | 13% below national |
| 278 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $39,740 | 13% below national |
| 279 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $39,680 | 13% below national |
| 280 | Decatur, AL | $39,580 | 14% below national |
| 281 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $39,480 | 14% below national |
| 282 | Elmira, NY | $39,460 | 14% below national |
| 283 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $39,420 | 14% below national |
| 284 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $39,390 | 14% below national |
| 285 | Jackson, TN | $39,360 | 14% below national |
| 286 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $39,180 | 14% below national |
| 287 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $39,100 | 15% below national |
| 288 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $39,100 | 15% below national |
| 289 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $39,040 | 15% below national |
| 290 | Binghamton, NY | $38,980 | 15% below national |
| 291 | Kingston, NY | $38,940 | 15% below national |
| 292 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $38,930 | 15% below national |
| 293 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $38,900 | 15% below national |
| 294 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $38,890 | 15% below national |
| 295 | Hot Springs, AR | $38,870 | 15% below national |
| 296 | Waco, TX | $38,860 | 15% below national |
| 297 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $38,810 | 15% below national |
| 298 | Wilmington, NC | $38,780 | 15% below national |
| 299 | Tulsa, OK | $38,700 | 15% below national |
| 300 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $38,650 | 16% below national |
| 301 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $38,650 | 16% below national |
| 302 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $38,600 | 16% below national |
| 303 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $38,500 | 16% below national |
| 304 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $38,470 | 16% below national |
| 305 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $38,340 | 16% below national |
| 306 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $38,230 | 16% below national |
| 307 | Boise City, ID | $38,170 | 17% below national |
| 308 | Gainesville, FL | $38,140 | 17% below national |
| 309 | Ocala, FL | $38,140 | 17% below national |
| 310 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $38,130 | 17% below national |
| 311 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $38,120 | 17% below national |
| 312 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $38,100 | 17% below national |
| 313 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $38,100 | 17% below national |
| 314 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $38,020 | 17% below national |
| 315 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $38,020 | 17% below national |
| 316 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $37,750 | 18% below national |
| 317 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $37,710 | 18% below national |
| 318 | El Paso, TX | $37,710 | 18% below national |
| 319 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $37,710 | 18% below national |
| 320 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,660 | 18% below national |
| 321 | Birmingham, AL | $37,620 | 18% below national |
| 322 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $37,610 | 18% below national |
| 323 | Tallahassee, FL | $37,610 | 18% below national |
| 324 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $37,600 | 18% below national |
| 325 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $37,580 | 18% below national |
| 326 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $37,580 | 18% below national |
| 327 | Rapid City, SD | $37,550 | 18% below national |
| 328 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $37,520 | 18% below national |
| 329 | Manhattan, KS | $37,500 | 18% below national |
| 330 | Savannah, GA | $37,490 | 18% below national |
| 331 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $37,480 | 18% below national |
| 332 | Springfield, IL | $37,450 | 18% below national |
| 333 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,420 | 18% below national |
| 334 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,340 | 18% below national |
| 335 | Bloomington, IL | $37,330 | 18% below national |
| 336 | Oklahoma City, OK | $37,290 | 19% below national |
| 337 | Fargo, ND-MN | $37,260 | 19% below national |
| 338 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $37,260 | 19% below national |
| 339 | Charleston, WV | $37,220 | 19% below national |
| 340 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $37,110 | 19% below national |
| 341 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $37,020 | 19% below national |
| 342 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $36,960 | 19% below national |
| 343 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $36,960 | 19% below national |
| 344 | Huntsville, AL | $36,950 | 19% below national |
| 345 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $36,940 | 19% below national |
| 346 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $36,930 | 19% below national |
| 347 | Ogden, UT | $36,930 | 19% below national |
| 348 | Montgomery, AL | $36,850 | 20% below national |
| 349 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $36,800 | 20% below national |
| 350 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $36,780 | 20% below national |
| 351 | Mobile, AL | $36,730 | 20% below national |
| 352 | Corpus Christi, TX | $36,700 | 20% below national |
| 353 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $36,700 | 20% below national |
| 354 | Tyler, TX | $36,680 | 20% below national |
| 355 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $36,650 | 20% below national |
| 356 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $36,580 | 20% below national |
| 357 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $36,560 | 20% below national |
| 358 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $36,540 | 20% below national |
| 359 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $36,510 | 20% below national |
| 360 | Albuquerque, NM | $36,400 | 20% below national |
| 361 | Valdosta, GA | $36,400 | 20% below national |
| 362 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $36,270 | 21% below national |
| 363 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $36,230 | 21% below national |
| 364 | Billings, MT | $36,160 | 21% below national |
| 365 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $36,140 | 21% below national |
| 366 | Erie, PA | $36,090 | 21% below national |
| 367 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $36,080 | 21% below national |
| 368 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $36,080 | 21% below national |
| 369 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $36,060 | 21% below national |
| 370 | Mayaguez, PR | $36,060 | 21% below national |
| 371 | Abilene, TX | $36,030 | 21% below national |
| 372 | Wichita, KS | $36,030 | 21% below national |
| 373 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $35,980 | 21% below national |
| 374 | Johnstown, PA | $35,810 | 22% below national |
| 375 | Muncie, IN | $35,750 | 22% below national |
| 376 | Idaho Falls, ID | $35,720 | 22% below national |
| 377 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $35,690 | 22% below national |
| 378 | Lima, OH | $35,670 | 22% below national |
| 379 | Hattiesburg, MS | $35,570 | 22% below national |
| 380 | Odessa, TX | $35,560 | 22% below national |
| 381 | Lubbock, TX | $35,530 | 22% below national |
| 382 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $35,480 | 22% below national |
| 383 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $35,350 | 23% below national |
| 384 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $35,330 | 23% below national |
| 385 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $35,310 | 23% below national |
| 386 | Dalton, GA | $35,200 | 23% below national |
| 387 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $35,200 | 23% below national |
| 388 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $35,200 | 23% below national |
| 389 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $35,040 | 23% below national |
| 390 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $34,980 | 24% below national |
| 391 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $34,820 | 24% below national |
| 392 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $34,790 | 24% below national |
| 393 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $34,610 | 24% below national |
| 394 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $34,460 | 25% below national |
| 395 | Johnson City, TN | $34,130 | 25% below national |
| 396 | San Angelo, TX | $33,970 | 26% below national |
| 397 | Lafayette, LA | $33,860 | 26% below national |
| 398 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $33,790 | 26% below national |
| 399 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $30,930 | 32% below national |
| 400 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $30,680 | 33% below national |
| 401 | Columbus, GA-AL | $30,640 | 33% below national |
| 402 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $30,150 | 34% below national |
| 403 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $29,710 | 35% below national |
| 404 | Saginaw, MI | $28,490 | 38% below national |
| 405 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $28,080 | 39% below national |
| 406 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $26,100 | 43% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Printing Press Operators make? ▼
The median annual salary for Printing Press Operators is $45,780 ($22.01/hour). The salary range spans from $33,330 at the 10th percentile to $63,520 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Printing Press Operators the most? ▼
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Printing Press Operators at $116,630/year, which is +155% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Printing Press Operators? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Printing Press Operators is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Printing Press Operators? ▼
Printing Press Operators has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 3.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 3.2 per 100 workers.
Is Printing Press Operators a good career? ▼
Employment for Printing Press Operators is projected to decline 8.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 13,700 openings are projected each year.
How does Printing Press Operators pay vary by state? ▼
Printing Press Operators salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $116,630/year, while New Mexico pays the least at $37,110/year. BLS data covers 53 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Printing Press Operators? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Printing Press Operators is Harrisonburg, VA at $64,180/year. BLS reports wage data for 406 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Printing Press Operators pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $55,740/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $116,630/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.