Printing Press Operator salary in Rockford, IL
Printing Press Operators in the Rockford, IL metro area earn a median of $42,920 a year ($20.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,820 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 7% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $46,260. There are 0.65 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $47,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Rockford, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,680 | $15.23 |
| 25th percentile | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Median | $42,920 | $20.63 |
| 75th percentile | $52,410 | $25.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,820 | $31.16 |
| Average (mean) | $47,120 | $22.65 |
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 | $3,576.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,788.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,650.77 |
| Weekly | $825.38 |
| Hourly | $20.63 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paducah, KY-IL | $48,890 | 40 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $48,610 | 70 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,710 | 1,570 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $46,580 | 7,790 |
| Decatur, IL | $44,980 | 50 |
| Peoria, IL | $44,750 | 230 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $44,400 | 130 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $37,710 | 150 |
| Springfield, IL | $37,450 | 40 |
| Bloomington, IL | $37,330 | 110 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rockford, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Machinist | $49,700 | $23.89 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $46,780 | $22.49 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,990 | $19.71 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,280 | $35.71 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,200 | $24.14 |
| Food Batchmaker | $52,500 | $25.24 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,030 | $22.61 |
| Tool and Die Makers | $52,900 | $25.43 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,950 | $16.81 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $44,580 | $21.43 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,230 | $18.38 |
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 Rockford, IL?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Rockford, IL metro area is $42,920 a year, or $20.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Rockford, IL?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Rockford, IL metro area earn at least $64,820 a year. The top 25% earn $52,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Rockford, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,680 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $37,020 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Rockford, IL?
About 90 printing press operators are employed in the Rockford, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.