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The differences between press operators printing and press assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a press operator printing and a press assistant. Additionally, a press operator printing has an average salary of $40,520, which is higher than the $33,732 average annual salary of a press assistant.
The top three skills for a press operator printing include quality standards, quality checks and flexo. The most important skills for a press assistant are hand tools, preventative maintenance, and safety policies.
| Press Operator Printing | Press Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $40,520 | $33,732 |
| Hourly rate | $19.48 | $16.22 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 34,403 | 5,056 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Printing Press Operator works on operating the printing machine of a publishing house. This person has advanced knowledge in the printing process, the repair, maintenance, and operation of various printing presses and provides input in color, design, and layout. The operator needs to have an idea of paper types, the quality of raw printing materials, and their uses. This person has the final decision before actual printing, and the outcome of a project rests entirely on his/her shoulders at this stage.
Press assistants require physical fitness, stamina, and inventory management skills. Some of the job responsibilities consist of supervising and operating the press machine that produces newspapers, magazines, and books. Press assistants can be hired as consultants, or work for a specific agency, business, or individual.
Press operators printing and press assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Press Operator Printing | Press Assistant | |
| Average salary | $40,520 | $33,732 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $52,000 | Between $26,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Harrisonburg, VA | Leominster, MA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Sonoco | CPI Card Group |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a press operator printing and a press assistant in terms of educational background:
| Press Operator Printing | Press Assistant | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Political Science |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between press operators printing' and press assistants' demographics:
| Press Operator Printing | Press Assistant | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.5% Female, 16.5% | Male, 77.0% Female, 23.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 6.9% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 7.2% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |