Printing Press Operator salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Printing Press Operators in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $43,450 a year ($20.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 520 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,590 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 7% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $40,790. There are 1.3 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $44,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,610 | $15.20 |
| 25th percentile | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| Median | $43,450 | $20.89 |
| 75th percentile | $50,020 | $24.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,590 | $28.65 |
| Average (mean) | $44,040 | $21.17 |
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 | $3,620.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,810.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,671.15 |
| Weekly | $835.58 |
| Hourly | $20.89 |
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 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $42,970 | 260 |
| 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $54,000 | $25.96 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $71,150 | $34.21 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,850 | $24.45 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $59,980 | $28.84 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $51,100 | $24.57 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $36,770 | $17.68 |
| Baker | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,660 | $19.55 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,380 | $16.53 |
| Food Batchmaker | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,700 | $23.42 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $58,870 | $28.30 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $43,450 a year, or $20.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $59,590 a year. The top 25% earn $50,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,610 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $36,030 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 520 printing press operators are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.