Printing Press Operator salary in Knoxville, TN
Printing Press Operators in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $45,920 a year ($22.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 360 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,490 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 6% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $43,160. There are 0.85 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $43,790, close to the median.
Pay range for printing press operators in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,770 | $13.83 |
| 25th percentile | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| Median | $45,920 | $22.08 |
| 75th percentile | $47,130 | $22.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,490 | $28.12 |
| Average (mean) | $43,790 | $21.05 |
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 | $3,826.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,913.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,766.15 |
| Weekly | $883.08 |
| Hourly | $22.08 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $48,620 | 110 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $46,220 | 1,320 |
| Morristown, TN | $43,990 | 90 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $43,450 | 500 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $42,740 | 140 |
| Jackson, TN | $39,360 | 120 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $37,020 | 380 |
| Johnson City, TN | $34,130 | 40 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $44,370 | $21.33 |
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $33,930 | $16.31 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,220 | $18.86 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $39,560 | $19.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $64,300 | $30.91 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| Machinist | $49,900 | $23.99 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $51,170 | $24.60 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,420 | $21.84 |
| Baker | $31,890 | $15.33 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $39,400 | $18.94 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,490 | $18.03 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $33,680 | $16.19 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Knoxville, TN
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 Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $45,920 a year, or $22.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $58,490 a year. The top 25% earn $47,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,770 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $36,510 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Knoxville, TN?
About 360 printing press operators are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.