Printing Press Operator salary in Columbia, MO
Printing Press Operators in the Columbia, MO metro area earn a median of $45,170 a year ($21.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,990 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 2% lower than the Missouri statewide median of $46,130. There are 0.46 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $45,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Columbia, MO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,660 | $15.22 |
| 25th percentile | $37,120 | $17.85 |
| Median | $45,170 | $21.71 |
| 75th percentile | $54,430 | $26.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,990 | $34.13 |
| Average (mean) | $45,940 | $22.09 |
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 | $3,764.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,882.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,737.31 |
| Weekly | $868.65 |
| Hourly | $21.71 |
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 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $48,610 | 70 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,710 | 1,570 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $46,660 | 150 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $46,560 | 1,590 |
| Springfield, MO | $44,410 | 200 |
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 Columbia, MO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,790 | $21.06 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $53,510 | $25.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,670 | $35.42 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $52,810 | $25.39 |
| Machinist | $50,120 | $24.09 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,700 | $25.34 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Baker | $31,690 | $15.24 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,870 | $17.25 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $50,270 | $24.17 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $42,050 | $20.22 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $40,550 | $19.50 |
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 Columbia, MO?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Columbia, MO metro area is $45,170 a year, or $21.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Columbia, MO?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Columbia, MO metro area earn at least $70,990 a year. The top 25% earn $54,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Columbia, MO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,660 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $37,120 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Columbia, MO?
About 50 printing press operators are employed in the Columbia, MO metro area, not counting the self-employed.