What is a Printing Press Operator?

Example of a Printing Press Operator Job Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.

Printing Press Operator Responsibilities

• Monitor environmental factors, such as humidity and temperature, that may impact equipment performance and make necessary adjustments.
• Input production job settings into workstation terminals that control automated printing systems.
• Set up or operate auxiliary equipment, such as cutting, folding, plate-making, drilling, or laminating machines.
• Control workflow scheduling or job tracking, using computer database software.
• Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments.
• Monitor automated press operation systems and respond to fault, error, or alert messages.

Printing Press Operator Required 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.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

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.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Head Bander and Liner Operator
• Rotary Screen Printing Machine Operator
• Printer Operator
• Decorating Equipment Setter
• Forwarder

Are There Job Opportunities for Printing Press Operators?

In the United States, there were 178,700 jobs for Printing Press Operators in 2016.

Printing Press Operator jobs are decreasing by a rate of -10.4%. This means the total job opportunities are shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a loss of -18,600 jobs for Printing Press Operators by 2026. The BLS estimates 15,800 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Printing Press Operators are Wisconsin, Nevada, and Idaho.

Watch out if you plan on working in California, New York, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Printing Press Operators Make A Lot Of Money?

The typical yearly salary for Printing Press Operators is somewhere between $22,690 and $58,710. The median salary is $36,220.

How much do Printing Press Operators make in different U.S. states?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
District of Columbia	$80,680
Alaska	$48,140
New Jersey	$45,580
Minnesota	$44,670
Illinois	$44,050
New Hampshire	$43,250
Hawaii	$43,120
Missouri	$42,920
Massachusetts	$42,890
Delaware	$42,280
Washington	$42,060
New York	$41,770
Rhode Island	$41,250
Vermont	$40,570
Maryland	$39,850
California	$39,380
Colorado	$39,370
Pennsylvania	$39,150
Texas	$38,710
Virginia	$38,690
Connecticut	$38,600
Wisconsin	$38,430
Tennessee	$38,170
Oregon	$37,920
North Carolina	$37,090
Ohio	$36,730
Michigan	$36,070
Nevada	$36,040
South Carolina	$35,770
South Dakota	$35,720
Utah	$35,550
Arkansas	$35,480
North Dakota	$35,410
Maine	$35,380
Nebraska	$35,110
Iowa	$35,090
Indiana	$34,610
Wyoming	$34,540
Kansas	$34,350
Arizona	$34,240
Georgia	$34,000
Florida	$33,640
Kentucky	$33,540
Montana	$33,320
Mississippi	$32,690
Idaho	$32,650
New Mexico	$32,220
Louisiana	$31,280
Alabama	$30,740
West Virginia	$30,630
Oklahoma	$30,430

What Tools do Printing Press Operators Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Printing Press Operators may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
• Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Word
• Electronics for Imaging EFI Monarch
• Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
• Microsoft Outlook
• Electronics for Imaging EFI Pace

Becoming a Printing Press Operator

Are there Printing Press Operator education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become Printing Press Operator?

Where do Printing Press Operators Work?

Similar Careers

Those interested in being a Printing Press Operator may also be interested in:

• Roofers
• Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing

Those who work as Printing Press Operators sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

• Prepress Technicians and Workers

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons