Printing Press Operators in Illinois
Thinking about a career as a Printing Press Operators in Illinois? 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 Illinois?
The printing press operators working in Illinois, the typical annual salary is $47,210 per year (or about $22.70/hour).Annual wages span from $30,120 at the 10th percentile to $75,680 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,120 | $14.48 |
| 25th percentile | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Median (50th) | $47,210 | $22.70 |
| 75th percentile | $58,110 | $27.94 |
| 90th percentile | $75,680 | $36.39 |
The job concentration index in Illinois relative to the national average — is 1.76, indicating that printing press operators are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, printing press operators earn a median of $31,814 per year ($15.30/hour), above the Illinois median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 70,126 printing press operators in the U.S.. In Illinois alone, about 10,060 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 1,950 printing press operators.
Top Illinois Metros for Printing Press Operators
These are the Illinois metros with the most printing press operators in Illinois.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 8,170 | $47,930 |
| Peoria, IL | 170 | $47,630 |
| Bloomington, IL | 120 | $48,520 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 120 | $41,650 |
| Rockford, IL | 80 | $42,190 |
| Springfield, IL | 70 | $36,820 |
| Decatur, IL | 50 | $48,690 |
Top States for Printing Press Operators Employment
View the states that employ 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
These states pay the most 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
Top 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
The abilities that matter most 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
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Graphic Communications
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Related Careers
Related occupations 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
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