Printing Press Operator salary in Missouri
Printing Press Operators in Missouri earn a median of $46,130 a year ($22.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,640 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $45,780. Missouri ranks 19th of 51 states for printing press operators pay. There are 1.2 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $47,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Missouri
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,560 | $15.65 |
| 25th percentile | $37,720 | $18.13 |
| Median | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| 75th percentile | $54,890 | $26.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,640 | $32.04 |
| Average (mean) | $47,560 | $22.87 |
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 | $3,844.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,922.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,774.23 |
| Weekly | $887.12 |
| Hourly | $22.18 |
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 Missouri
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City, MO | $49,610 | 130 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $48,610 | 70 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,710 | 1,570 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $46,660 | 150 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $46,560 | 1,590 |
| Columbia, MO | $45,170 | 50 |
| Springfield, MO | $44,410 | 200 |
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 Missouri
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $45,860 | $22.05 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,480 | $22.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,210 | $35.20 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,420 | $26.17 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,950 | $24.98 |
| Machinist | $58,710 | $28.23 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,470 | $18.50 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $53,160 | $25.56 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $40,580 | $19.51 |
| Baker | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $33,870 | $16.28 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,580 | $22.88 |
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 Missouri?
The median salary for printing press operators in Missouri is $46,130 a year, or $22.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Missouri?
The top 10% of printing press operators in Missouri earn at least $66,640 a year. The top 25% earn $54,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Missouri?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,560 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $37,720 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Missouri?
About 3,460 printing press operators are employed in Missouri, not counting the self-employed.