Occupations · Production
Printing Press Operators
Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 51-5112.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 34% between 2010 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $47,930 | 8,170 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $50,130 | 6,540 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $45,530 | 5,970 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $46,310 | 4,150 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $51,230 | 3,350 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $43,960 | 3,000 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $48,690 | 2,770 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $38,710 | 2,560 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $42,320 | 2,320 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | $44,450 | 1,990 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | $47,970 | 1,950 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $46,990 | 1,890 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: High school diploma or equivalent · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- 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.
- Secure printing plates to printing units and adjust tolerances.
- Load presses with paper and make necessary adjustments, according to paper size.
- Monitor automated press operation systems and respond to fault, error, or alert messages.
- Download or scan files to be printed, using printing production software.
- Clean ink fountains, plates, or printing unit cylinders when press runs are completed.
- Change press plates, blankets, or cylinders, as required.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2020-08
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2020-08
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning.
Now listed 9
No longer listed 6
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| gravure press operator | 7322.3 | broader |
| flexographic press operator | 7322.2 | broader |
| offset printer | 7322.5 | broader |
| paper embosing press operator | 7322.6 | broader |
| screen printer | 7322.9 | broader |
| lithographer | 7321.1.2 | broader |
| digital printer | 7322.1 | broader |
| hot foil operator | 7322.4 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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