Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The average salary for a Printer Operator stands at $36,411 annually, or about $18 per hour. Salary variations depend on factors such as experience, location, and the specific industry in which one is employed. For example, positions in larger cities may offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for skilled operators.
Entry-level printer operators typically earn lower salaries, while those with several years of experience can command significantly higher wages. Understanding these dynamics can help job seekers tailor their career paths effectively.
States like California and New York frequently report higher salaries for printer operators, reflecting the increased demand in major urban centers. Additionally, exploring job openings in specialized sectors can lead to lucrative opportunities.
By staying informed about salary trends and regional differences, printer operators can enhance their earning potential and navigate their career paths with confidence.
Let Zippi find your next printer operator job
Let Zippi find your next printer operator job
The average printer operator salary in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average printer operator salary states are Alabama, Indiana, and Kansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $47,113 | $22.65 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $48,868 | $23.49 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $44,737 | $21.51 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $43,232 | $20.78 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $47,537 | $22.85 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $38,839 | $18.67 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $40,336 | $19.39 |
| 8 | Illinois | $38,875 | $18.69 |
| 9 | Maine | $38,528 | $18.52 |
| 10 | Maryland | $38,849 | $18.68 |
| 11 | Virginia | $44,522 | $21.40 |
| 12 | Ohio | $35,755 | $17.19 |
| 13 | Michigan | $36,993 | $17.79 |
| 14 | Washington | $42,864 | $20.61 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $36,926 | $17.75 |
| 16 | Vermont | $38,449 | $18.49 |
| 17 | Delaware | $40,646 | $19.54 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $36,251 | $17.43 |
| 19 | Utah | $35,789 | $17.21 |
| 20 | New York | $41,904 | $20.15 |
| 21 | Oregon | $38,881 | $18.69 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $37,415 | $17.99 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $38,767 | $18.64 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $33,970 | $16.33 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $37,181 | $17.88 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $34,385 | $16.53 |
| 27 | Idaho | $35,896 | $17.26 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $35,225 | $16.94 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $33,512 | $16.11 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $33,300 | $16.01 |
| 31 | Georgia | $33,075 | $15.90 |
| 32 | Missouri | $33,420 | $16.07 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $31,934 | $15.35 |
| 34 | Alaska | $31,267 | $15.03 |
| 35 | Montana | $33,978 | $16.34 |
| 36 | Colorado | $35,231 | $16.94 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $31,254 | $15.03 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $32,326 | $15.54 |
| 39 | California | $34,392 | $16.53 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $32,967 | $15.85 |
| 41 | Indiana | $29,566 | $14.21 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $32,870 | $15.80 |
| 43 | Nevada | $32,531 | $15.64 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $32,804 | $15.77 |
| 45 | Iowa | $29,150 | $14.01 |
| 46 | Arizona | $32,359 | $15.56 |
| 47 | Kansas | $29,200 | $14.04 |
| 48 | Texas | $31,451 | $15.12 |
| 49 | Alabama | $30,045 | $14.44 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $27,612 | $13.28 |
| 51 | Florida | $28,419 | $13.66 |
The highest-paying cities for printer operators are Providence, RI, Leesburg, VA, and Chelmsford, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence, RI | $46,936 | $22.57 |
| 2 | Leesburg, VA | $46,655 | $22.43 |
| 3 | Chelmsford, MA | $44,199 | $21.25 |
| 4 | Appleton, WI | $43,527 | $20.93 |
| 5 | Kent, WA | $42,997 | $20.67 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $42,231 | $20.30 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $39,067 | $18.78 |
| 8 | Maple Grove, MN | $38,855 | $18.68 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $37,102 | $17.84 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $36,725 | $17.66 |
| 11 | Mooresville, NC | $36,521 | $17.56 |
| 12 | Salt Lake City, UT | $35,792 | $17.21 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $35,270 | $16.96 |
| 14 | Napa, CA | $34,990 | $16.82 |
| 15 | La Vergne, TN | $34,058 | $16.37 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $33,686 | $16.20 |
| 17 | North Charleston, SC | $33,244 | $15.98 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $32,332 | $15.54 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $31,561 | $15.17 |
| 20 | Lawrence, KS | $29,228 | $14.05 |
A printer operator's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $53,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| Average | $36,411 | $3,034 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of printer operators are compositor, offset press operator, and lead press operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressman | $39,994 | $3,333 | $19.23 | 673 |
| Screen Making Technician | $32,429 | $2,702 | $15.59 | 24,872 |
| Compositor | $45,101 | $3,758 | $21.68 | 154 |
| Printer | $33,219 | $2,768 | $15.97 | 1,756 |
| Press Operator Printing | $40,520 | $3,377 | $19.48 | 34,403 |
| Offset Press Operator | $43,637 | $3,636 | $20.98 | 30,089 |
Top companies hiring printer operators now:
Printer operator salaries at Quad and Judd Wire are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average printer operator salary at companies like Justrite and BD are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quad | $61,150 | $29.40 |
| 2 | Judd Wire | $58,826 | $28.28 |
| 3 | Justrite | $54,097 | $26.01 |
| 4 | BD | $51,694 | $24.85 |
| 5 | GPAC | $50,375 | $24.22 |
| 6 | Ball | $49,956 | $24.02 |
| 7 | Broadridge | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| 8 | Centene | $45,646 | $21.95 |
| 9 | Novolex | $45,514 | $21.88 |
| 10 | State of Arizona | $43,822 | $21.07 |
| 11 | Canon | $43,533 | $20.93 |
| 12 | Creative Converting | $42,955 | $20.65 |
| 13 | Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago | $42,739 | $20.55 |
| 14 | Alliance Defending Freedom | $42,637 | $20.50 |
| 15 | IWCO Direct | $42,267 | $20.32 |
| 16 | CSG | $41,337 | $19.87 |
| 17 | Hoffmaster | $41,277 | $19.84 |
| 18 | Graphic Packaging International | $41,058 | $19.74 |
| 19 | Dairy Farmers of America | $40,899 | $19.66 |
| 20 | Crown Holdings | $39,303 | $18.90 |
The average printer operator salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $39,465 | $18.97 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $37,908 | $18.23 |
| 3 | Retail | $33,148 | $15.94 |
| 4 | Professional | $32,760 | $15.75 |
| 5 | Media | $31,757 | $15.27 |
The average printer operator salary has risen by $3,450 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average printer operator earned $32,961 annually, but today, they earn $36,411 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for printer operators over the last decade.
Compare printer operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare printer operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,400 | $17.51 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $35,500 | $17.06 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $34,800 | $16.74 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $34,400 | $16.53 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | $34,200 | $16.42 | +0.8% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seda North America | Print Operator | Mount Pleasant, WI | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Mine Safety Appliances Inc., (MSA | Pad Print Operator | Murrysville, PA | 06/28/2025 | $50,088 |
| Manpowergroup | Mercury Print-Toner Operator | Rochester, NY | 06/26/2025 | $35,479 |
| Aerotek | Overnight Printing Operators | Chanhassen, MN | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Timken Co. (The | Carton Printing Operator-3Rd Shift | Duncan, SC | 06/25/2025 | $33,914 |
| Flowly Solutions | Print Operator | San Jose, CA | 06/23/2025 | $50,088 |
| CSG Systems Incorporated | Print Operator-Night Shift | Fort Worth, TX | 06/21/2025 | $37,253 |
| Amcor | 2Nd Shift Thermoprint Operator/Packer | Lawrence, KS | 06/21/2025 | $38,610 |
| UAP Career | 3D Print Operator | Fine, NY | 06/20/2025 | $48,523 |
| Berry Global Group Inc. | 3Rd Shift Thermoprint Operator/Packer | Lawrence, KS | 06/18/2025 | $38,610 |
Search for printer operator jobs