Printing Press Operator salary in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
Printing Press Operators in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $48,610 a year ($23.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,490 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 5% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $46,130. There are 1.6 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $52,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,630 | $16.17 |
| 25th percentile | $39,070 | $18.79 |
| Median | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| 75th percentile | $61,450 | $29.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,490 | $36.30 |
| Average (mean) | $52,010 | $25.00 |
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 | $4,050.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,025.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,869.62 |
| Weekly | $934.81 |
| Hourly | $23.37 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City, MO | $49,610 | 130 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $48,890 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,710 | 1,570 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $46,660 | 150 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $46,580 | 7,790 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $46,560 | 1,590 |
| Columbia, MO | $45,170 | 50 |
| Decatur, IL | $44,980 | 50 |
| Peoria, IL | $44,750 | 230 |
| Springfield, MO | $44,410 | 200 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $44,400 | 130 |
| Rockford, IL | $42,920 | 90 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $37,710 | 150 |
| Springfield, IL | $37,450 | 40 |
| Bloomington, IL | $37,330 | 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 |
See Printing Press Operator pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $65,990 | $31.73 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $57,140 | $27.47 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,580 | $23.35 |
| Machinist | $48,160 | $23.15 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $29,630 | $14.24 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,740 | $18.62 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $50,960 | $24.50 |
| Baker | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $35,270 | $16.96 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $37,720 | $18.13 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $35,110 | $16.88 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
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 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area is $48,610 a year, or $23.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area earn at least $75,490 a year. The top 25% earn $61,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,630 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $39,070 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?
About 70 printing press operators are employed in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.