Printing Press Operator salary in California
Printing Press Operators in California earn a median of $46,110 a year ($22.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,320 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,910 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $45,780. California ranks 20th of 51 states for printing press operators pay. There are 0.68 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $48,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| 25th percentile | $38,530 | $18.53 |
| Median | $46,110 | $22.17 |
| 75th percentile | $54,870 | $26.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,910 | $30.73 |
| Average (mean) | $48,370 | $23.26 |
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 | $3,842.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,921.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,773.46 |
| Weekly | $886.73 |
| Hourly | $22.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Printing Press Operator salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | $50,640 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $50,280 | 1,050 |
| Visalia, CA | $49,680 | 140 |
| Napa, CA | $48,600 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $48,570 | 130 |
| Modesto, CA | $46,670 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,440 | 590 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,200 | 6,140 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,110 | 930 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $46,110 | 90 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $45,540 | 80 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $45,530 | 70 |
| Vallejo, CA | $45,240 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | $45,060 | 180 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $45,030 | 990 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,890 | 250 |
| Chico, CA | $44,550 | 60 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,130 | 670 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $43,480 | 70 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $39,680 | 110 |
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 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $53,860 | $25.89 |
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $45,390 | $21.82 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,840 | $36.94 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $48,080 | $23.12 |
| Baker | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,060 | $27.91 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $37,790 | $18.17 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $56,510 | $27.17 |
| Machinist | $57,190 | $27.49 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $44,290 | $21.29 |
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 California?
The median salary for printing press operators in California is $46,110 a year, or $22.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in California?
The top 10% of printing press operators in California earn at least $63,910 a year. The top 25% earn $54,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,580 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $38,530 or less.
How many printing press operators work in California?
About 12,320 printing press operators are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.