Production
Printing press operator
Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.
Median pay
$45,780
Growth to 2035
−9%
declining
Openings a year
12,100
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Printing press operator
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Printing press operator: 41% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration.
- Examine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions.
- Adjust ink fountain flow rates.
- Verify that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job.
- Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments.
- Feed paper through press cylinders and adjust feed and tension controls.
- Monitor automated press operation systems and respond to fault, error, or alert messages.
- Load presses with paper and make necessary adjustments, according to paper size.
Also called: Digital Press Operator · Flexographic Press Operator · Offset Press Operator · Offset Pressman · Press Operator · Pressman · Printer · Printing Press Operator
Outlook and AI
Printing press operators held 144,000 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 131,400 by 2035 (−9%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
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