Printing Press Operator salary in Rapid City, SD
Printing Press Operators in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn a median of $37,550 a year ($18.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,720 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 16% lower than the South Dakota statewide median of $44,930. There are 0.60 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $43,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Rapid City, SD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| 25th percentile | $34,260 | $16.47 |
| Median | $37,550 | $18.05 |
| 75th percentile | $49,080 | $23.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,720 | $29.19 |
| Average (mean) | $43,690 | $21.01 |
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 | $3,129.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,564.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,444.23 |
| Weekly | $722.12 |
| Hourly | $18.05 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $47,320 | 200 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $38,230 | 50 |
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 South Dakota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rapid City, SD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $37,180 | $17.87 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $30,880 | $14.85 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,690 | $24.85 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $70,290 | $33.79 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,850 | $22.53 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $40,760 | $19.60 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,970 | $18.74 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,190 | $25.09 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,310 | $23.22 |
| Machinist | $47,840 | $23.00 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Rapid City, SD
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 Rapid City, SD?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Rapid City, SD metro area is $37,550 a year, or $18.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Rapid City, SD?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn at least $60,720 a year. The top 25% earn $49,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Rapid City, SD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,960 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $34,260 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Rapid City, SD?
About 40 printing press operators are employed in the Rapid City, SD metro area, not counting the self-employed.