Printing Press Operator salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Printing Press Operators in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median of $37,020 a year ($17.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 380 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,510 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 14% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $43,160. There are 1.4 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $41,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,620 | $14.72 |
| 25th percentile | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Median | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| 75th percentile | $47,910 | $23.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,510 | $27.65 |
| Average (mean) | $41,690 | $20.04 |
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 | $3,085 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,542.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,423.85 |
| Weekly | $711.92 |
| Hourly | $17.80 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $48,620 | 110 |
| Gainesville, GA | $47,240 | 120 |
| Rome, GA | $46,850 | 30 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $46,220 | 1,320 |
| Knoxville, TN | $45,920 | 360 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $44,610 | 2,650 |
| Morristown, TN | $43,990 | 90 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $43,450 | 500 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $42,740 | 140 |
| Jackson, TN | $39,360 | 120 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $37,580 | 70 |
| Savannah, GA | $37,490 | 60 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $36,940 | 70 |
| Valdosta, GA | $36,400 | 30 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $36,140 | 80 |
| Dalton, GA | $35,200 | 310 |
| Johnson City, TN | $34,130 | 40 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $30,640 | 70 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,330 | $21.80 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,220 | $23.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $70,660 | $33.97 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $43,160 | $20.75 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| Baker | $40,880 | $19.65 |
| Machinist | $51,540 | $24.78 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,550 | $18.05 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,850 | $23.97 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $40,140 | $19.30 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,630 | $19.05 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $41,320 | $19.87 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Chattanooga, TN-GA
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 Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $37,020 a year, or $17.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn at least $57,510 a year. The top 25% earn $47,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,620 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $34,980 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
About 380 printing press operators are employed in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area, not counting the self-employed.