Printing Press Operator salary in Altoona, PA
Printing Press Operators in the Altoona, PA metro area earn a median of $44,580 a year ($21.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,940 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 5% lower than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $47,010. There are 2.4 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $45,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Altoona, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| 25th percentile | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Median | $44,580 | $21.43 |
| 75th percentile | $48,350 | $23.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,940 | $32.19 |
| Average (mean) | $45,760 | $22.00 |
Half of printing press operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,715 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,857.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,714.62 |
| Weekly | $857.31 |
| Hourly | $21.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Printing Press Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PA | $48,650 | 440 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $48,610 | 2,910 |
| Lebanon, PA | $47,380 | 90 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $47,370 | 520 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $47,340 | 450 |
| Reading, PA | $47,240 | 300 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $47,150 | 1,080 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $47,110 | 380 |
| Williamsport, PA | $46,570 | 70 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $46,520 | 80 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $45,820 | 420 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $45,390 | 100 |
| Erie, PA | $36,090 | 190 |
| Johnstown, PA | $35,810 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for printing press operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $116,630 |
| Massachusetts | $53,050 |
| New Jersey | $50,430 |
| Washington | $49,800 |
| Oregon | $48,760 |
| Minnesota | $48,560 |
| New Hampshire | $48,410 |
| Kentucky | $48,000 |
| Colorado | $47,860 |
| New York | $47,860 |
See Printing Press Operator pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Altoona, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,800 | $18.17 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $62,660 | $30.12 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,380 | $21.34 |
| Food Batchmaker | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,890 | $21.58 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,540 | $24.78 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $52,080 | $25.04 |
| Machinist | $52,660 | $25.32 |
| Baker | $31,850 | $15.31 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,200 | $22.69 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $28,910 | $13.90 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,690 | $23.89 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-5112. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a printing press operator make in Altoona, PA?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Altoona, PA metro area is $44,580 a year, or $21.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Altoona, PA?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Altoona, PA metro area earn at least $66,940 a year. The top 25% earn $48,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Altoona, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,150 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $37,840 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Altoona, PA?
About 140 printing press operators are employed in the Altoona, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.