Printing Press Operator salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Printing Press Operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $46,580 a year ($22.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,000 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 1% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $46,260. There are 1.7 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $49,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,870 | $15.32 |
| 25th percentile | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Median | $46,580 | $22.39 |
| 75th percentile | $60,120 | $28.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,000 | $36.06 |
| Average (mean) | $49,520 | $23.81 |
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 | $3,881.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,940.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,791.54 |
| Weekly | $895.77 |
| Hourly | $22.39 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $48,890 | 1,730 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $48,890 | 40 |
| Evansville, IN | $48,770 | 410 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $48,610 | 70 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $48,110 | 1,340 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,710 | 1,570 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $46,360 | 300 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $45,150 | 340 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $45,140 | 160 |
| Decatur, IL | $44,980 | 50 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $44,810 | 1,770 |
| Peoria, IL | $44,750 | 230 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $44,400 | 130 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $43,990 | 100 |
| Rockford, IL | $42,920 | 90 |
| Bloomington, IN | $42,510 | 50 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $39,100 | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $37,710 | 150 |
| Springfield, IL | $37,450 | 40 |
| Bloomington, IL | $37,330 | 110 |
| Muncie, IN | $35,750 | 80 |
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $49,250 | $23.68 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $49,680 | $23.89 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,650 | $20.99 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,230 | $23.19 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,290 | $20.81 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,500 | $36.78 |
| Machinist | $59,520 | $28.62 |
| Baker | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $41,160 | $19.79 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,650 | $25.31 |
| Food Batchmaker | $47,660 | $22.91 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,590 | $21.92 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,230 | $24.15 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,740 | $17.18 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $46,580 a year, or $22.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $75,000 a year. The top 25% earn $60,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,870 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $36,750 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 7,790 printing press operators are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.