Printing Press Operator salary in Madison, WI
Printing Press Operators in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $47,020 a year ($22.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 770 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,790 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 1% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $47,330. There are 1.9 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $49,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| 25th percentile | $40,020 | $19.24 |
| Median | $47,020 | $22.61 |
| 75th percentile | $59,730 | $28.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,790 | $30.67 |
| Average (mean) | $49,810 | $23.95 |
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 | $3,918.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,959.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,808.46 |
| Weekly | $904.23 |
| Hourly | $22.61 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $58,750 | 610 |
| Wausau, WI | $50,650 | 120 |
| Kenosha, WI | $50,540 | 50 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $50,310 | 70 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $50,170 | 3,390 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $47,400 | 2,590 |
| Green Bay, WI | $47,330 | 1,260 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $47,220 | 160 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $46,110 | 150 |
| Appleton, WI | $46,090 | 530 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $45,550 | 140 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $45,480 | 300 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $45,430 | 90 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $45,040 | 80 |
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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $43,400 | $20.87 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $48,410 | $23.28 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,360 | $22.77 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,700 | $36.88 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $53,940 | $25.93 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,430 | $22.80 |
| Food Batchmaker | $46,580 | $22.39 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $59,530 | $28.62 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,150 | $21.71 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $46,460 | $22.34 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Baker | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| Machinist | $60,830 | $29.24 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,980 | $22.11 |
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Madison, WI metro area is $47,020 a year, or $22.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $63,790 a year. The top 25% earn $59,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,420 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $40,020 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Madison, WI?
About 770 printing press operators are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.