Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$33,330
- 25th Percentile — Junior$37,390
- 50th Percentile — Median$45,780
- 75th Percentile — Senior$55,740
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$63,520
The top 10% of Printing Press Operators earn $63,520 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $33,330, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $104,930 | +121.6% |
| New Jersey | $55,600 | +17.4% |
| Massachusetts | $55,430 | +17.0% |
| Washington | $53,310 | +12.6% |
| Minnesota | $52,390 | +10.6% |
| New York | $50,990 | +7.7% |
| Rhode Island | $50,680 | +7.0% |
| New Hampshire | $50,280 | +6.2% |
| Wisconsin | $50,220 | +6.0% |
| Oregon | $50,200 | +6.0% |
| Maryland | $50,180 | +6.0% |
| Vermont | $49,950 | +5.5% |
| Kentucky | $49,510 | +4.5% |
| Colorado | $49,120 | +3.7% |
| Connecticut | $48,880 | +3.2% |
| Maine | $48,770 | +3.0% |
| Illinois | $48,590 | +2.6% |
| California | $48,370 | +2.1% |
| Pennsylvania | $47,940 | +1.2% |
| Alaska | $47,750 | +0.8% |
| Arkansas | $47,640 | +0.6% |
| Missouri | $47,560 | +0.4% |
| Indiana | $46,860 | -1.1% |
| Hawaii | $46,610 | -1.6% |
| Michigan | $46,230 | -2.4% |
| Ohio | $46,210 | -2.4% |
| South Dakota | $46,110 | -2.6% |
| Nevada | $46,020 | -2.8% |
| North Carolina | $45,840 | -3.2% |
| Virginia | $45,650 | -3.6% |
| Texas | $45,430 | -4.1% |
| Delaware | $45,140 | -4.7% |
| Nebraska | $44,860 | -5.3% |
| Arizona | $44,830 | -5.3% |
| Utah | $43,830 | -7.5% |
| Tennessee | $43,810 | -7.5% |
| Georgia | $43,300 | -8.6% |
| Iowa | $42,860 | -9.5% |
| South Carolina | $42,850 | -9.5% |
| Florida | $42,840 | -9.5% |
| West Virginia | $42,710 | -9.8% |
| Montana | $42,660 | -9.9% |
| Mississippi | $42,380 | -10.5% |
| Kansas | $42,350 | -10.6% |
| North Dakota | $41,960 | -11.4% |
| Wyoming | $41,890 | -11.5% |
| New Mexico | $41,400 | -12.6% |
| Idaho | $40,810 | -13.8% |
| Louisiana | $40,130 | -15.3% |
| Alabama | $38,700 | -18.3% |
| Oklahoma | $38,200 | -19.3% |
What Factors Affect Printing Press Operators Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Printing Press Operators is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: District of Columbia pays an average of $104,930, while Oklahoma pays $38,200 — a gap of $66,730 per year.
The middle half of Printing Press Operators earn between $37,390 and $55,740 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,330, while the top 10% earn more than $63,520.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $46,660/yr United States 1.5% vs this role
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Printing Press Operators?
The average salary for Printing Press Operators in the United States is $47,360 per year, with a median of $45,780.
What is the starting salary for Printing Press Operators?
Entry-level Printing Press Operators typically earn between $33,330 and $37,390 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Printing Press Operators the most?
District of Columbia pays Printing Press Operators the most at $104,930 per year on average, followed by New Jersey ($55,600) and Massachusetts ($55,430).
How much do Printing Press Operators make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $47,360, Printing Press Operators earn approximately $22.77 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Printing Press Operators a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 144,260 Printing Press Operators jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $47,360 and a median of $45,780 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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