How to hire a printing machine operator

How to hire a printing machine operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step printing machine operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a printing machine operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new printing machine operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The printing machine operator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect printing machine operator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of printing machine operators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Printing Machine Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Printing Machine Operator		$12-18
   Pressman	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... Show more	$14-24
   Compositor	Compositors are the creators of a frame, shot, or sequence final image. They usually combine various digital elements to produce a believable picture... Show more	$11-40

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Quality Standards
   • Basic Math
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Production Process
   • Preventive Maintenance
   • UV
   • Quality Checks
   • Quality Products
   • Press Operation
   • Digital Presses
   • Print Runs
   • Troubleshoot
   • Offset Printing
   • Stencils

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Take the UV expose board to the paint cleansing department.
   • Set up, run, and ensure the quality of print jobs.
   • Print pricing labels for food chains, run label machine, sort and deliver tags to mailroom.
   • Adjust image position for variable data files to accommodate perforations on paper or for viewing through envelope windows.
   • Operate various applications including duplex and MICR checks to print job within schedule and meet deadlines for production.
   • Monitor attendance and payroll time-sheets.

   More printing machine operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your printing machine operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A printing machine operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, printing machine operators' average salary in florida is 40% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level printing machine operators 32% less than senior-level printing machine operators.
   • Certifications. A printing machine operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a printing machine operator's salary.

   Average printing machine operator salary

   $15.41hourly

   $32,044 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level printing machine operator salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average printing machine operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Minnesota	$41,486	$20
   2	New Jersey	$40,593	$20
   3	Oregon	$38,603	$19
   4	Colorado	$37,509	$18
   5	California	$36,254	$17
   6	New York	$33,830	$16
   7	Kansas	$33,543	$16
   8	Pennsylvania	$32,376	$16
   9	Oklahoma	$31,455	$15
   10	Arizona	$30,953	$15
   11	Indiana	$30,462	$15
   12	Illinois	$30,063	$14
   13	Texas	$29,774	$14
   14	Ohio	$29,090	$14
   15	South Carolina	$28,078	$14
   16	Iowa	$28,044	$13
   17	North Carolina	$27,931	$13
   18	Florida	$26,571	$13

   Average printing machine operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Middlesex County College	$36,541	$17.57
   2	AmeriPride Services	$35,248	$16.95
   3	Helm	$34,415	$16.55
   4	Mercury Plastics	$33,972	$16.33
   5	U.S. Bank	$33,875	$16.29	3
   6	Fifth Third Bank	$33,835	$16.27	1
   7	Mondi Bags USA, LLC (Pine Bluff)	$33,537	$16.12	5
   8	Remedy Intelligent Staffing	$33,012	$15.87
   9	Berry Global	$32,893	$15.81
   10	Debbie's Staffing	$32,756	$15.75	4
   11	Nexus Staffing Solutions	$32,720	$15.73
   12	Aerotek	$32,674	$15.71	393
   13	4over	$32,515	$15.63	10
   14	Adecco	$32,418	$15.59	327
   15	Staffmark	$32,371	$15.56
   16	PeopleReady	$32,368	$15.56	59
   17	LaborMAX Staffing	$32,299	$15.53	2
   18	Kelly Services	$32,223	$15.49	121
   19	TERRA Staffing Group	$32,112	$15.44
   20	Automation Personnel Services	$31,826	$15.30	19

4. Writing a printing machine operator job description

   A good printing machine operator job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a printing machine operator job description:

   Printing machine operator job description example

   First Shift 630-3 Monday-Friday

   Stable company experiencing growth at a record pace, is looking for full-time 1st shift Operators.

   We are centrally located near major highways, and offer growth opportunities, 401k matching/profit sharing, annual increases, PTO, and have overtime available.

   Looking for dependable and motivated individuals with good work history.

   Arrow International, Inc. is the world’s largest producer and supplier of charitable and social gaming solutions. Arrow’s products include consumables (tickets, pull-tabs, and the like) as well as electronic and other gaming equipment installed and operating in a wide array of social settings.

   Essential Job Functions:

   • · Work from work orders, Schedules, First Articles, Database files, Ticket Tab Visuals, written and verbal instructions. (up to and including online service calls-with tech support)
   • · Change Databases, Blankets, impression paper, PIP, stock and perform first transfer and color calibration, daily.
   • · Check color, load press with specific type, size and color of paper stock, clean Bids, Ink reservoirs, wipe and clean press parts and cylinders.
   • · Check for registration, make choice of best print modes to run in according to colors/speed needs.
   • · Troubleshoot problems and take corrective action, make repairs or replace parts, notify supervision of difficulties.
   • · Exercise proper care in the use of tools, equipment and materials.
   • · Detect and report faulty equipment, defective material, improper operations and unusual conditions to supervision, follow up with re-pairing equipment and using phone support as needed
   • · Observe all prescribed safety rules and regulations and maintain work area in a neat and orderly condition.
   • · Control waste spoilage and printing errors.
   • · Coordinate information to other shift operations.
   • · Complete work in a timely fashion within time estimates.
   • · Advise press room management of potential issues.
   • · Adhere to company and departmental policies and rules.
   • · Develop and share knowledge of press operations with other crew and departmental personnel.
   • · Perform other duties as assigned

   Education Requirements:

   • · High school diploma / GED equivalent

   Physical Requirements:

   • · Lift 20-40lbs occasionally

   Other Skills/Abilities:

   • · Must have proven experience in operations
   • · Must have excellent attention to detail
   • · Must be self-motivated and self-sufficient and able to follow directions
   • · Must be physically capable of job performance
   • · Must be quality and time consciences
   • · Must be able to work with a variety of different people at all levels
   • · Must be able to work overtime and different shifts
   • · Must be able to keep area orderly and clean
   • · Must be able to read and write in English
   • · Should have an honest/agreeable/positive attitude

   Qualified MILITARY VETERANS are welcome and strongly encouraged to apply.

   Arrow International, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Arrow International, Inc. and all of its subsidiary companies and affiliates to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law. Arrow International prohibits any such discrimination or harassment.

   Qualified MILITARY VETERANS are welcome and strongly encouraged to apply.

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find printing machine operators for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your printing machine operator job on Zippia to find and recruit printing machine operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with printing machine operator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new printing machine operator

   Once you've found the printing machine operator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new printing machine operator. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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