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What Do Printing Press Operator Do?
Printing Press Operator Job Description Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.
Daily Life Of a Printing Press Operator
- Verify that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job.
- Input production job settings into workstation terminals that control automated printing systems.
- Maintain time or production records.
- Feed paper through press cylinders and adjust feed and tension controls.
- Set up or operate auxiliary equipment, such as cutting, folding, plate-making, drilling, or laminating machines.
- Adjust digital files to alter print elements, such as fonts, graphics, or color separations.
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Printing Press Operator Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Printing Press Operators say are important on the job.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related Job Titles
- Type Copyist
- Cylinder Press Operator
- Striping Machine Operator
- Top Printing Press Operator
- Manufacturing Operator
Are There Job Opportunities for Printing Press Operators?
In the United States, there were 178,700 jobs for Printing Press Operator in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Printing Press Operator. There will be an estimated 15,800 positions for Printing Press Operator per year.
The states with the most job growth for Printing Press Operator are Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, Kentucky, or Hawaii. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Printing Press Operator Make?
The salary for Printing Press Operators ranges between about $22,690 and $58,710 a year.
Printing Press Operators who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Minnesota, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Printing Press Operators in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $30,740 |
| Alaska | $48,140 |
| Arizona | $34,240 |
| Arkansas | $35,480 |
| California | $39,380 |
| Colorado | $39,370 |
| Connecticut | $38,600 |
| Delaware | $42,280 |
| District of Columbia | $80,680 |
| Florida | $33,640 |
| Georgia | $34,000 |
| Hawaii | $43,120 |
| Idaho | $32,650 |
| Illinois | $44,050 |
| Indiana | $34,610 |
| Iowa | $35,090 |
| Kansas | $34,350 |
| Kentucky | $33,540 |
| Louisiana | $31,280 |
| Maine | $35,380 |
| Maryland | $39,850 |
| Massachusetts | $42,890 |
| Michigan | $36,070 |
| Minnesota | $44,670 |
| Mississippi | $32,690 |
| Missouri | $42,920 |
| Montana | $33,320 |
| Nebraska | $35,110 |
| Nevada | $36,040 |
| New Hampshire | $43,250 |
| New Jersey | $45,580 |
| New Mexico | $32,220 |
| New York | $41,770 |
| North Carolina | $37,090 |
| North Dakota | $35,410 |
| Ohio | $36,730 |
| Oklahoma | $30,430 |
| Oregon | $37,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,150 |
| Rhode Island | $41,250 |
| South Carolina | $35,770 |
| South Dakota | $35,720 |
| Tennessee | $38,170 |
| Texas | $38,710 |
| Utah | $35,550 |
| Vermont | $40,570 |
| Virginia | $38,690 |
| Washington | $42,060 |
| West Virginia | $30,630 |
| Wisconsin | $38,430 |
| Wyoming | $34,540 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Printing Press Operators
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Printing Press Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- Graphics software
- Inventory tracking software
- Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
- Adobe Systems Adobe PageMaker
- QuarkXPress
- Image editing software
- Adobe Systems Adobe LifeCycle Production Print ES3
How to Become a Printing Press Operator
What education or degrees do I need to become a Printing Press Operator?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Printing Press Operator?
Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Printing Press Operator may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as a Printing Press Operator sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
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