Printing Press Operator salary in Dubuque, IA
Printing Press Operators in the Dubuque, IA metro area earn a median of $40,560 a year ($19.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,440 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 1% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $40,790. There are 0.91 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $42,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Dubuque, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,680 | $15.23 |
| 25th percentile | $34,670 | $16.67 |
| Median | $40,560 | $19.50 |
| 75th percentile | $48,090 | $23.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,440 | $28.10 |
| Average (mean) | $42,620 | $20.49 |
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 | $3,380 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,690 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,560 |
| Weekly | $780 |
| Hourly | $19.50 |
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 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $43,450 | 520 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $42,970 | 260 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $42,070 | 1,680 |
| 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 Dubuque, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $50,320 | $24.19 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,130 | $37.08 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $56,100 | $26.97 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,180 | $23.65 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,110 | $25.05 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,800 | $23.94 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,770 | $22.49 |
| Machinist | $58,890 | $28.31 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,640 | $22.90 |
| Food Batchmaker | $49,130 | $23.62 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $48,750 | $23.44 |
| Baker | $41,160 | $19.79 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $36,520 | $17.56 |
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 Dubuque, IA?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Dubuque, IA metro area is $40,560 a year, or $19.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Dubuque, IA?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Dubuque, IA metro area earn at least $58,440 a year. The top 25% earn $48,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Dubuque, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,680 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $34,670 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Dubuque, IA?
About 50 printing press operators are employed in the Dubuque, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.