Printing Press Operator salary in Champaign-Urbana, IL
Printing Press Operators in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn a median of $44,400 a year ($21.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,120 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 4% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $46,260. There are 1.2 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $45,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Champaign-Urbana, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| Median | $44,400 | $21.35 |
| 75th percentile | $57,840 | $27.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,120 | $28.91 |
| Average (mean) | $45,600 | $21.92 |
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 | $3,700 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,850 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,707.69 |
| Weekly | $853.85 |
| Hourly | $21.35 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paducah, KY-IL | $48,890 | 40 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $48,610 | 70 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,710 | 1,570 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $46,580 | 7,790 |
| Decatur, IL | $44,980 | 50 |
| Peoria, IL | $44,750 | 230 |
| 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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Champaign-Urbana, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $42,730 | $20.54 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,530 | $35.35 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Baker | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,600 | $22.40 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,960 | $18.25 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $46,140 | $22.18 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,650 | $16.66 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,090 | $21.68 |
| Machinist | $58,910 | $28.32 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,790 | $23.46 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,560 | $22.87 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Champaign-Urbana, 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 Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area is $44,400 a year, or $21.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn at least $60,120 a year. The top 25% earn $57,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $36,050 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
About 130 printing press operators are employed in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.