What You Need to Know About Printing Press Operator
Example of Printing Press Operator Job Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.
A Day in the Life of a Printing Press Operator
- 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.
- Download completed jobs to archive media so that questions can be answered or jobs replicated.
- Download or scan files to be printed, using printing production software.
- Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration.
- Monitor environmental factors, such as humidity and temperature, that may impact equipment performance and make necessary adjustments.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Printing Press Operator?
When polled, Printing Press Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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 for this Occupation:
- Journeyman Press Operator
- Large Sheetfed Press Operator
- Lithograph Printer
- Cut and Print Machine Operator
- Electrotype Caster
What Kind of Printing Press Operator Job Opportunities Are There?
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 average yearly salary of a Printing Press Operator ranges between $22,690 and $58,710.

Printing Press Operators who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Minnesota, make the highest salaries.
How much do Printing Press Operators make in each U.S. state?
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 |
What Tools do Printing Press Operators Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Printing Press Operators:
- 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 do I Become a Printing Press Operator?
What education or degrees do I need to become a Printing Press Operator?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Printing Press Operators Sector

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Printing Press Operator might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Printing Press Operator in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
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