Printing Press Operators in Iowa
Thinking about a career as a Printing Press Operators in Iowa? Below are the key facts. 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 Iowa?
The printing press operators working in Iowa, wages run about $39,660 per year (or roughly $19.07/hour).Annual wages span from $29,950 at the 10th percentile to $56,990 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| 25th percentile | $35,590 | $17.11 |
| Median (50th) | $39,660 | $19.07 |
| 75th percentile | $47,640 | $22.90 |
| 90th percentile | $56,990 | $27.40 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Iowa compared to the national average — is 1.52, 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 Iowa median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 70,126 printing press operators across the United States. In Iowa alone, about 2,240 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 1,950 printing press operators.
Top Iowa Metros for Printing Press Operators
These are the Iowa metros with the most printing press operators in Iowa.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 510 | $41,280 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 260 | $41,620 |
| Ames, IA | 180 | $42,850 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 170 | $38,740 |
| Iowa City, IA | 110 | $46,060 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 110 | $40,910 |
| Dubuque, IA | 70 | $37,710 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 50 | $41,020 |
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
Key printing press operators skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for printing press operators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, printing press operators typically:
- 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
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Graphic Communications
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Related Careers
Other careers like 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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