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Printing Press Operators in Virginia

Considering working as a Printing Press Operators in Virginia? Here’s what you need to know. Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.

What do Printing Press Operators Make in Virginia?

The printing press operators working in Virginia, the median annual wage is $42,790 per year (or about $20.57/hour).Annual wages span from $30,740 at the 10th percentile to $64,990 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$30,740	$14.78
25th percentile	$36,390	$17.49
Median (50th)	$42,790	$20.57
75th percentile	$53,360	$25.66
90th percentile	$64,990	$31.25

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Virginia nationwide is 0.73, meaning fewer printing press operators per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, printing press operators earn a median of $31,814 per year ($15.30/hour), exceeding the Virginia median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 70,126 printing press operators in the U.S.. In Virginia alone, about 2,780 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 1,950 printing press operators.

Top Virginia Metros for Printing Press Operators

The largest metro-area employers of printing press operators in Virginia.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	540	$39,250
Richmond, VA	490	$42,240
Lynchburg, VA	150	$42,560
Roanoke, VA	140	$39,570
Harrisonburg, VA	130	$62,100
Winchester, VA-WV	110	$47,800
Charlottesville, VA	80	$37,870
Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA	40	$43,000

Top States for Printing Press Operators Employment

The table below shows the states where the most printing press operators work.

State	Number Employed
California	11,990
Illinois	10,060
Texas	9,510
Ohio	7,650
Florida	7,600
New York	7,200
Pennsylvania	6,770
Wisconsin	6,480
Indiana	5,230
Minnesota	4,800
Georgia	4,640
Michigan	4,320
North Carolina	3,950
New Jersey	3,840
Missouri	3,810
Tennessee	3,590
Arizona	2,890
Virginia	2,780
Alabama	2,760
Kansas	2,660

Highest-Paying States for Printing Press Operators

The highest-paying states for printing press operators.

State	Annual Median Salary
District of Columbia	$115,770
New Jersey	$51,760
Minnesota	$49,540
Maryland	$49,450
Washington	$49,230
Massachusetts	$49,230
Rhode Island	$48,310
Arkansas	$48,310
Wisconsin	$47,970
Oregon	$47,900

Skills

The most important printing press operators skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for printing press operators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• 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.
• Clean ink fountains, plates, or printing unit cylinders when press runs are completed.
• Change press plates, blankets, or cylinders, as required.
• Obtain or mix inks and fill ink fountains.

Work Activities

• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Getting Information
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Scheduling Work and Activities
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Training and Teaching Others
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator

Related Careers

Careers similar to printing press operators include:

• Office Machine Operators, Except Computer
• Industrial Machinery Mechanics
• Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Also Known As

Aniline Press Worker, Back Up Machine Operator, Backer, Bag Press Operator, Bag Printer, Balloon Design Printer, Bander and Liner Operator, Ben-Day Artist, Binding Printer, Block Printer, Box Press Operator, Box Printer, Calico Printer, Carton Stamper, Cellophane Press Operator.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-5112.00