Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Printing machine operator salary
Average printing machine operator salary
$15.41
Average Printing Machine Operator Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a printing machine operator is approximately $32,044 annually or about $15.41 per hour. This figure can vary based on factors such as geographical location, years of experience, and the specific industry.
Where Can a Printing Machine Operator Earn More?
Some states offer significantly higher salaries. For instance, states like California and New York often present better compensation due to a higher cost of living and demand for skilled operators. Additionally, operators with specialized skills or certifications may command higher wages.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level operators typically earn less, around $25,000 to $30,000 annually, while those with several years of experience can see salaries rise to $40,000 or more. Understanding these trends helps prospective operators make informed decisions about their career paths.
Let Zippi find your next printing machine operator job
Let Zippi find your next printing machine operator job
Where can a Printing Machine Operator earn more?
Printing machine operator salaries by experience level
Printing machine operator salary estimates from across the web
Average printing machine operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for printing machine operators are Washington, Minnesota, and New Jersey. The lowest average printing machine operator salary states are Ohio, South Carolina, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for printing machine operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $39,534 | $19.01 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $40,674 | $19.55 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $40,298 | $19.37 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $38,852 | $18.68 |
| 5 | Alaska | $37,885 | $18.21 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $35,136 | $16.89 |
| 7 | Washington | $42,870 | $20.61 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $38,148 | $18.34 |
| 9 | Oregon | $38,623 | $18.57 |
| 10 | Utah | $35,775 | $17.20 |
| 11 | Maine | $36,601 | $17.60 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $33,776 | $16.24 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $37,650 | $18.10 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $34,353 | $16.52 |
| 15 | Vermont | $36,126 | $17.37 |
| 16 | Colorado | $37,495 | $18.03 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $37,323 | $17.94 |
| 18 | Idaho | $36,092 | $17.35 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $32,622 | $15.68 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $32,607 | $15.68 |
| 21 | Kansas | $33,320 | $16.02 |
| 22 | Virginia | $36,252 | $17.43 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $32,844 | $15.79 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $33,420 | $16.07 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| 26 | California | $35,661 | $17.14 |
| 27 | Montana | $34,172 | $16.43 |
| 28 | Indiana | $30,604 | $14.71 |
| 29 | Maryland | $30,697 | $14.76 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $30,183 | $14.51 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $30,958 | $14.88 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $31,484 | $15.14 |
| 33 | New York | $32,918 | $15.83 |
| 34 | Arizona | $30,859 | $14.84 |
| 35 | Missouri | $30,429 | $14.63 |
| 36 | Nevada | $31,528 | $15.16 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $30,668 | $14.74 |
| 38 | Ohio | $28,467 | $13.69 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $31,576 | $15.18 |
| 40 | Michigan | $29,234 | $14.05 |
| 41 | Delaware | $30,970 | $14.89 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $29,861 | $14.36 |
| 43 | Georgia | $28,891 | $13.89 |
| 44 | Iowa | $27,961 | $13.44 |
| 45 | Illinois | $29,749 | $14.30 |
| 46 | Texas | $29,947 | $14.40 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $28,378 | $13.64 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $27,677 | $13.31 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $28,876 | $13.88 |
| 50 | Alabama | $26,546 | $12.76 |
| 51 | Florida | $25,710 | $12.36 |
Highest paying cities for printing machine operators
The highest-paying cities for printing machine operators are Duluth, MN, Paterson, NJ, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duluth, MN | $41,486 | $19.95 |
| 2 | Paterson, NJ | $40,593 | $19.52 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $38,603 | $18.56 |
| 4 | Arvada, CO | $37,509 | $18.03 |
| 5 | El Dorado Hills, CA | $36,254 | $17.43 |
| 6 | Rochester, NY | $33,830 | $16.26 |
| 7 | Manhattan, KS | $33,543 | $16.13 |
| 8 | York, PA | $32,376 | $15.57 |
| 9 | Oklahoma City, OK | $31,455 | $15.12 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $30,953 | $14.88 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $30,462 | $14.65 |
| 12 | Waukegan, IL | $30,063 | $14.45 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $29,774 | $14.31 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $29,090 | $13.99 |
| 15 | North Charleston, SC | $28,078 | $13.50 |
| 16 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $28,044 | $13.48 |
| 17 | Winston-Salem, NC | $27,931 | $13.43 |
| 18 | Jacksonville, FL | $26,571 | $12.77 |
Printing machine operator salary details
A printing machine operator's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $38,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a printing machine operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $32,044 | $2,670 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying printing machine operator jobs
The highest paying types of printing machine 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 |
| Compositor | $45,101 | $3,758 | $21.68 | 154 |
| Screen Making Technician | $32,429 | $2,702 | $15.59 | 24,872 |
| Printer | $33,219 | $2,768 | $15.97 | 1,756 |
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
| Press Operator Printing | $40,520 | $3,377 | $19.48 | 34,403 |
Top companies hiring printing machine operators now:
Which companies pay printing machine operators the most?
Printing machine operator salaries at Middlesex County College and AmeriPride Services are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average printing machine operator salary at companies like Helm and Mercury Plastics are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 6 | Fifth Third Bank | $33,835 | $16.27 |
| 7 | Mondi Bags USA, LLC (Pine Bluff) | $33,537 | $16.12 |
| 8 | Remedy Intelligent Staffing | $33,012 | $15.87 |
| 9 | Berry Global | $32,893 | $15.81 |
| 10 | Debbie's Staffing | $32,756 | $15.75 |
| 11 | Nexus Staffing Solutions | $32,720 | $15.73 |
| 12 | Aerotek | $32,674 | $15.71 |
| 13 | 4over | $32,515 | $15.63 |
| 14 | Adecco | $32,418 | $15.59 |
| 15 | Staffmark | $32,371 | $15.56 |
| 16 | PeopleReady | $32,368 | $15.56 |
| 17 | LaborMAX Staffing | $32,299 | $15.53 |
| 18 | Kelly Services | $32,223 | $15.49 |
| 19 | TERRA Staffing Group | $32,112 | $15.44 |
| 20 | Automation Personnel Services | $31,826 | $15.30 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Printing Machine Operator salary by industry
The average printing machine operator salary varies across industries:
- The average printing machine operator salary in the manufacturing industry is $32,413, the highest of any industry.
- The average printing machine operator salary in the finance industry is $31,459.
- Printing machine operators in the energy industry earn an average salary of $28,906, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for printing machine operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $32,413 | $15.58 |
| 2 | Retail | $31,459 | $15.12 |
| 3 | Telecommunication | $30,705 | $14.76 |
| 4 | Energy | $28,906 | $13.90 |
High paying printing machine operator jobs
Printing machine operator salary trends
The average printing machine operator salary has risen by $3,037 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average printing machine operator earned $29,007 annually, but today, they earn $32,044 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for printing machine operators over the last decade.
Compare printing machine operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average printing machine operator salary over time
Compare printing machine operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Printing machine operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,000 | $15.41 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $31,200 | $15.01 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $30,600 | $14.73 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $30,300 | $14.54 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | $30,100 | $14.45 | +0.8% |
Recently added printing machine operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simos | Print Production Machine Operator | New Kensington, PA | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Multi-Color Corp | Machine Operator-Printing | Saint Louis, MO | 06/26/2025 | $37,295 |
| Aerotek | Printing Machine Operator | Chaska, MN | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Verstela | Production Print Machine Operator | 1St. Shift | Everett, WA | 06/17/2025 | $45,914 |
| Judd Wire | Print Machine Operator-3Rd Shift | Turners Falls, MA | 06/10/2025 | $41,051 |
| Doherty Staffing Solutions | Cable Print Machine Operator-1St. Shift | Faribault, MN | 05/22/2025 | $41,740 |
| Berry Global | Print Machine Operator | Tolleson, AZ | 05/17/2025 | $37,566 |
| Verstela | Production Print Machine Operator | 1St. Shift | Everett, WA | 05/16/2025 | $45,914 |
| Staffmark Group | Printing Machine Operator | Lancaster, TX | 05/12/2025 | $39,653 |
| Kelly Services | Assistant Printing Machine Operator | Plymouth, MN | 05/08/2025 | $46,958 |
Printing machine operator salary FAQs
Search for printing machine operator jobs