Production

Printing Press Operators

10/100
#703 of 825
$45,780
median pay, U.S.
144,260
employed (2024)
-8.1%
growth, 2024–34
13,700
openings per year
High school diploma or equivalent
typical entry education

Is printing press operators a good career?

It scores 10/100 and ranks #703 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • No college degree typically required to enter

Possible tradeoffs

  • Pays below the U.S. median wage ($45,780 vs $61,390)
  • Employment is projected to decline (-8.1% through 2034)

What printing press operators earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. printing press operators earn between $37,390 and $55,740 a year.

Best-paying states

$116,630
Massachusetts statewide
$53,050
New Jersey statewide
$50,430
Washington statewide
$49,800
Oregon statewide
$48,760
Minnesota statewide
$48,560
New Hampshire statewide
$48,410
Kentucky statewide
$48,000
Colorado statewide
$47,860
New York statewide
$47,860
$20k $80k $140k

Best-paying metros

01 Harrisonburg, VA $64,180
02 Rochester, MN $59,200
03 Staunton, VA $58,850
04 Oshkosh, WI $58,750
05 Fort Smith, AR $56,350
06 Trenton, NJ $55,920
07 Springfield, MA $55,740
08 Manchester, NH $54,230

Strongest employment concentration

01 California 12,320
02 Illinois 9,550
03 Texas 9,110
04 Wisconsin 8,120
05 Ohio 7,500
06 Pennsylvania 7,150

Live printing press operators jobs

No live printing press operators openings yet

When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified printing press operators openings will appear here — each shown against the $45,780 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.

No placeholder listings · nothing invented

How to become a printing press operator

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Related occupations

High school diploma or equivalent · $42,290 median
Postsecondary nondegree award · $48,690 median
Questions about becoming a printing press operator
How much do printing press operators make?

The national median wage is $45,780 a year, with the middle half earning between $37,390 and $55,740 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Is printing press operators a good career?

On the Jobs.best index it scores 10 of 100 and ranks #703 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -8.1% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a printing press operator?

The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.

Where do printing press operators earn the most?

Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($116,630). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34. How we score careers →