Printing Press Operator salary in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
Printing Press Operators in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area earn a median of $45,820 a year ($22.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 420 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,670 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 3% lower than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $47,010. 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 $46,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| 25th percentile | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Median | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| 75th percentile | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,670 | $28.21 |
| Average (mean) | $46,120 | $22.17 |
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 | $3,818.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,909.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,762.31 |
| Weekly | $881.15 |
| Hourly | $22.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $45,820 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Printing Press Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PA | $48,650 | 440 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $48,610 | 2,910 |
| Lebanon, PA | $47,380 | 90 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $47,370 | 520 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $47,340 | 450 |
| Reading, PA | $47,240 | 300 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $47,150 | 1,080 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $47,110 | 380 |
| Williamsport, PA | $46,570 | 70 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $46,520 | 80 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $45,390 | 100 |
| Altoona, PA | $44,580 | 140 |
| Erie, PA | $36,090 | 190 |
| Johnstown, PA | $35,810 | 30 |
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 Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $48,790 | $23.46 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,680 | $21.96 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,270 | $22.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,560 | $35.37 |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,900 | $20.62 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $40,460 | $19.45 |
| Baker | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,330 | $25.16 |
| Machinist | $56,070 | $26.96 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,830 | $18.67 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $38,850 | $18.68 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
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 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area is $45,820 a year, or $22.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area earn at least $58,670 a year. The top 25% earn $49,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,350 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $38,020 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
About 420 printing press operators are employed in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.