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Pressman vs printer operator

The differences between pressmen and printer operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a pressman and a printer operator. Additionally, a pressman has an average salary of $39,994, which is higher than the $36,411 average annual salary of a printer operator.

The top three skills for a pressman include safety regulations, preventative maintenance and UV. The most important skills for a printer operator are troubleshoot, quality checks, and quality standards.

Pressman vs printer operator overview

PressmanPrinter Operator
Yearly salary$39,994$36,411
Hourly rate$19.23$17.51
Growth rate--
Number of jobs67343,730
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 53%High School Diploma, 37%
Average age4848
Years of experience44

What does a pressman do?

A pressman is responsible for maintaining the printing press operations, maintaining the efficiency of the equipment and machinery to produce high-quality outputs. Pressmen ensure the readability and completeness of the content before distribution. They must be knowledgeable of the mechanical industry, spotting inconsistencies with the equipment, and performing immediate repairs or component replacement to avoid delays in operation. A pressman works closely with other printing operators to ensure that the outputs meet the clients' specifications and business' printing guidelines.

What does a printer operator do?

A printer operator is tasked to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot all printing equipment in a company. This person performs all necessary printing requests coming from customers and the company and is expected to have a working knowledge of various printing equipment and printing techniques to assure quality. The printer operator must also know about design, use of color, and other creative aspects to provide last-minute adjustments on printing jobs to avoid later revisions. The printer operator is vital personnel in businesses like publishing companies and creative houses.

Pressman vs printer operator salary

Pressmen and printer operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

PressmanPrinter Operator
Average salary$39,994$36,411
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $51,000Between $24,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City-Providence, RI
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Quad
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between pressman and printer operator education

There are a few differences between a pressman and a printer operator in terms of educational background:

PressmanPrinter Operator
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 53%High School Diploma, 37%
Most common majorGraphic DesignBusiness
Most common college--

Pressman vs printer operator demographics

Here are the differences between pressmen' and printer operators' demographics:

PressmanPrinter Operator
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 96.3% Female, 3.7%Male, 68.1% Female, 31.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 6.1% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 7.2% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between pressman and printer operator duties and responsibilities

Pressman example responsibilities.

  • Lead a team of three employees to help ensure production run smoothly.
  • Operate 40 Heidelberg 8-color CD with aqueous coater, CPC 2 & 3 and CP Tronics.
  • Operate a 110 gear less web Flexo press.
  • Adjust nip rollers and trolleys on upper formers.
  • Remove printed materials from stackers and prepare for shipping.
  • Adjust folder nips and trolleys for best paper delivery.
  • Show more

Printer operator example responsibilities.

  • Manage day-to-day operations and supervise employees to ensure the studio run smoothly.
  • Operate UV and solvent printers.
  • Collate and bind print materials.
  • Record HD masters, clones.
  • Print operator using high speed OCE printers.
  • Handle rush orders and short delivery windows.
  • Show more

Pressman vs printer operator skills

Common pressman skills
  • Safety Regulations, 10%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 6%
  • UV, 6%
  • Web Press, 6%
  • Multi, 5%
  • Bindery Equipment, 5%
Common printer operator skills
  • Troubleshoot, 14%
  • Quality Checks, 9%
  • Quality Standards, 9%
  • Basic Math, 8%
  • Windows, 5%
  • Preventive Maintenance, 5%

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