Skilled Trades

Printing Press Operators

Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.

Median salary

$45,160

Typical range

$31k – $63k

Job outlook

See national outlook

AI exposure

Plan a path to Printing Press Operators

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

•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.

Any field

Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.