How much does a press operator make?

In the U.S., experience, useful certifications, and the kind of press an operator can run may affect pay. Pay also varies by employer or union contract and location; overtime or shift differentials can matter too.

Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.

What's a typical day like?

They read the job order, load paper and ink, set up the press, and print a sample to check color and alignment. While it runs, they inspect sheets and adjust settings, then clean the press and record the job.

Finish high school or earn a GED in the U.S., then learn as a press helper or through an apprenticeship; trade-school classes can help. Many start after high school, around age 18, and O*NET says on-the-job training can take days to a year.

High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)

Good for people who like keeping things organized and building and doing.

A 19th-century American press called the Gordon Jobber was designed for one person to print small jobs; versions of this old-style letterpress are still used today.

The US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.