Printing Press Operator salary in Pennsylvania
Printing Press Operators in Pennsylvania earn a median of $47,010 a year ($22.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,690 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $45,780. Pennsylvania ranks 14th 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 $47,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,850 | $16.76 |
| 25th percentile | $38,080 | $18.31 |
| Median | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| 75th percentile | $56,350 | $27.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,690 | $30.62 |
| Average (mean) | $47,940 | $23.05 |
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 | $3,917.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,958.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,808.08 |
| Weekly | $904.04 |
| Hourly | $22.60 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PA | $48,650 | 440 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $48,610 | 2,910 |
| Lebanon, PA | $47,380 | 90 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $47,370 | 520 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $47,340 | 450 |
| Reading, PA | $47,240 | 300 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $47,150 | 1,080 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $47,110 | 380 |
| Williamsport, PA | $46,570 | 70 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $46,520 | 80 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $45,820 | 420 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $45,390 | 100 |
| Altoona, PA | $44,580 | 140 |
| Erie, PA | $36,090 | 190 |
| Johnstown, PA | $35,810 | 30 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $43,010 | $20.68 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,160 | $21.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,990 | $36.05 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,320 | $23.23 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,480 | $21.39 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,900 | $25.43 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Machinist | $57,810 | $27.79 |
| Baker | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,860 | $23.01 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Food Batchmaker | $39,920 | $19.19 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,070 | $23.11 |
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for printing press operators in Pennsylvania is $47,010 a year, or $22.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of printing press operators in Pennsylvania earn at least $63,690 a year. The top 25% earn $56,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,850 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $38,080 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Pennsylvania?
About 7,150 printing press operators are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.