Printing Press Operator salary in Reading, PA
Printing Press Operators in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median of $47,240 a year ($22.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,430 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is about the same as the Pennsylvania statewide median of $47,010. There are 1.7 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $48,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Reading, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,010 | $16.83 |
| 25th percentile | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Median | $47,240 | $22.71 |
| 75th percentile | $57,330 | $27.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,430 | $30.98 |
| Average (mean) | $48,120 | $23.14 |
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 | $3,936.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,968.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,816.92 |
| Weekly | $908.46 |
| Hourly | $22.71 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Printing Press Operator pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Reading, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $40,880 | $19.65 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,860 | $22.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $78,200 | $37.60 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,170 | $23.64 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $54,840 | $26.36 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $54,350 | $26.13 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,470 | $26.19 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $70,310 | $33.80 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,760 | $26.33 |
| Machinist | $59,550 | $28.63 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $55,260 | $26.57 |
| Food Batchmaker | $44,220 | $21.26 |
| Baker | $35,730 | $17.18 |
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 Reading, PA?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Reading, PA metro area is $47,240 a year, or $22.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Reading, PA?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Reading, PA metro area earn at least $64,430 a year. The top 25% earn $57,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Reading, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,010 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $37,110 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Reading, PA?
About 300 printing press operators are employed in the Reading, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.