Printing Press Operator salary in Illinois
Printing Press Operators in Illinois earn a median of $46,260 a year ($22.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,550 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,250 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $45,780. Illinois ranks 18th of 51 states for printing press operators pay. There are 1.6 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $48,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,450 | $15.12 |
| 25th percentile | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Median | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| 75th percentile | $59,170 | $28.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,250 | $31.85 |
| Average (mean) | $48,590 | $23.36 |
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 | $3,855 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,927.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,779.23 |
| Weekly | $889.62 |
| Hourly | $22.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Printing Press Operator salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Paducah, KY-IL | $48,890 | 40 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $48,610 | 70 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,710 | 1,570 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $46,580 | 7,790 |
| Decatur, IL | $44,980 | 50 |
| Peoria, IL | $44,750 | 230 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $44,400 | 130 |
| Rockford, IL | $42,920 | 90 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $37,710 | 150 |
| Springfield, IL | $37,450 | 40 |
| Bloomington, IL | $37,330 | 110 |
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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $49,450 | $23.78 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,140 | $21.22 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,200 | $36.16 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.75 |
| Machinist | $58,520 | $28.13 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,320 | $24.67 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $42,470 | $20.42 |
| Baker | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Food Batchmaker | $48,130 | $23.14 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,500 | $21.88 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $53,560 | $25.75 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,730 | $20.06 |
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 Illinois?
The median salary for printing press operators in Illinois is $46,260 a year, or $22.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Illinois?
The top 10% of printing press operators in Illinois earn at least $66,250 a year. The top 25% earn $59,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,450 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $36,470 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Illinois?
About 9,550 printing press operators are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.