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Graphic & Printing Operations

Types of Degrees Graphic & Printing Operations Majors Are Earning

Those studying Graphic & Printing Operations can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	31
Associate’s Degree	137
Bachelor’s Degree	32
Master’s Degree	114

What Graphic & Printing Operations Majors Need to Know

Programs in Graphic & Printing Operations develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Graphic & Printing Operations graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Graphic & Printing Operations emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Administrative — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set emphasized by a Graphic & Printing Operations program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 2.7 / 7.
• Time Management — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 2.8 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Graphic & Printing Operations careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Finger Dexterity — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Information Ordering — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Graphic & Printing Operations graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.5 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.1 / 7
Processing Information	3.9 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.8 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	3.7 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.5 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	3.5 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Graphic & Printing Operations professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Adobe PageMaker	Desktop publishing software	—
Adobe Acrobat	Document management software	—
Adobe Photoshop	Graphics or photo imaging software	✓
Adobe InDesign	Desktop publishing software	✓
QuarkXPress	Desktop publishing software	—
Adobe Illustrator	Graphics or photo imaging software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Graphic & Printing Operations graduates include:

• Computer Typesetter
• Roller Print Tender
• Stereotyper
• Lithographic Press Operator
• Press Technician
• Lithographing Machine Operator
• Print Operator
• Digital Press Operator
• Digital Print Operator
• Pantograph Setter
• Striping Machine Operator
• Electrotyper
• Typesetter
• Steel Die Printer
• Press Operator

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Graphic & Printing Operations graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	50.9%
Some college courses	23.7%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	15.8%
Postsecondary certificate	6.0%
Bachelor’s degree	2.4%
Less than a high school diploma	1.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Graphic & Printing Operations?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 61.8% of Graphic & Printing Operations degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	194	61.8%
Men	120	38.2%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Graphic & Printing Operations graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	153	48.7%
Asian	19	6.1%
Hispanic or Latino	78	24.8%
Black or African American	32	10.2%
Two or More Races	9	2.9%
Race Unknown	17	5.4%
International Students	6	1.9%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Graphic & Printing Operations Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Graphic & Printing Operations graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$28,061
4 years	$41,119
5 years	$47,590

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $47,590 — roughly 70% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Graphic & Printing Operations Programs

Online study are documented by IPEDS for Graphic & Printing Operations. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	1	0

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Graphic & Printing Operations Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Graphic & Printing Operations graduates earn a median of $41,119 four years after completion — roughly 8% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Graphic Communications	10.03
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects	10.0304
Computer Typography and Composition Equipment Operator	10.0308
Graphic Communications, General	10.0301
Graphic Communications, Other	10.0399
Platemaker/Imager	10.0306
Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design	10.0303
Printing Management	10.0302
Printing Press Operator	10.0307

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.