Printing Press Operator salary in Cedar Rapids, IA
Printing Press Operators in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area earn a median of $42,970 a year ($20.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,180 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 5% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $40,790. There are 1.8 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,530, close to the median.
Pay range for printing press operators in Cedar Rapids, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,000 | $14.90 |
| 25th percentile | $35,200 | $16.92 |
| Median | $42,970 | $20.66 |
| 75th percentile | $47,480 | $22.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,180 | $27.97 |
| Average (mean) | $42,530 | $20.45 |
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 | $3,580.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,790.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,652.69 |
| Weekly | $826.35 |
| Hourly | $20.66 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | $47,780 | 100 |
| Ames, IA | $46,850 | 150 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $43,450 | 520 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $42,070 | 1,680 |
| Dubuque, IA | $40,560 | 50 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $40,540 | 90 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $38,230 | 50 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $37,710 | 150 |
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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $44,000 | $21.15 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $42,760 | $20.56 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $67,700 | $32.55 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,640 | $34.92 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,420 | $23.76 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $56,750 | $27.28 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $53,940 | $25.93 |
| Food Batchmaker | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $39,250 | $18.87 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $64,670 | $31.09 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $83,470 | $40.13 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $57,170 | $27.49 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Cedar Rapids, IA
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 Cedar Rapids, IA?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area is $42,970 a year, or $20.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area earn at least $58,180 a year. The top 25% earn $47,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Cedar Rapids, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,000 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $35,200 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Cedar Rapids, IA?
About 260 printing press operators are employed in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.