Printing Press Operator salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Printing Press Operators in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median of $48,980 a year ($23.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 250 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69,100 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 7% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $45,630. There are 1.6 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $50,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| 25th percentile | $38,470 | $18.49 |
| Median | $48,980 | $23.55 |
| 75th percentile | $58,530 | $28.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,100 | $33.22 |
| Average (mean) | $50,070 | $24.07 |
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 | $4,081.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,040.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,883.85 |
| Weekly | $941.92 |
| Hourly | $23.55 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NC | $48,650 | 90 |
| Asheville, NC | $47,440 | 190 |
| Greenville, NC | $47,030 | 60 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $46,430 | 250 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $45,960 | 380 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $45,600 | 630 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $44,640 | 30 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $43,590 | 1,580 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $43,440 | 250 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $42,250 | 40 |
| Wilmington, NC | $38,780 | 90 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $38,650 | 510 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $56,850 | $27.33 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| Upholsterer | $59,700 | $28.70 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $46,540 | $22.38 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $64,910 | $31.21 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $43,140 | $20.74 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,720 | $18.62 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $47,940 | $23.05 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $53,800 | $25.87 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,150 | $19.78 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $38,310 | $18.42 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,410 | $18.95 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | $49,200 | $23.66 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $48,980 a year, or $23.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn at least $69,100 a year. The top 25% earn $58,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,110 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $38,470 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
About 250 printing press operators are employed in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.