Printing Press Operator salary in Appleton, WI
Printing Press Operators in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median of $46,090 a year ($22.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 530 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69,630 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 3% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $47,330. There are 4.3 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $50,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Appleton, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| 25th percentile | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Median | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| 75th percentile | $61,170 | $29.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,630 | $33.48 |
| Average (mean) | $50,650 | $24.35 |
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 | $3,840.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,920.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,772.69 |
| Weekly | $886.35 |
| Hourly | $22.16 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $58,750 | 610 |
| Wausau, WI | $50,650 | 120 |
| Kenosha, WI | $50,540 | 50 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $50,310 | 70 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $50,170 | 3,390 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $47,400 | 2,590 |
| Green Bay, WI | $47,330 | 1,260 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $47,220 | 160 |
| Madison, WI | $47,020 | 770 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $46,110 | 150 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $45,550 | 140 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $45,480 | 300 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $45,430 | 90 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $45,040 | 80 |
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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $38,970 | $18.73 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $53,150 | $25.55 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Food Batchmaker | $49,390 | $23.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,240 | $37.14 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,930 | $24.01 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,920 | $28.33 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $59,550 | $28.63 |
| Machinist | $60,350 | $29.02 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $53,560 | $25.75 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $53,390 | $25.67 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $44,200 | $21.25 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $43,710 | $21.01 |
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 Appleton, WI?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Appleton, WI metro area is $46,090 a year, or $22.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Appleton, WI?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Appleton, WI metro area earn at least $69,630 a year. The top 25% earn $61,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Appleton, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,370 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $38,960 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Appleton, WI?
About 530 printing press operators are employed in the Appleton, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.