Printing Press Operator salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Printing Press Operators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $47,710 a year ($22.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,570 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,720 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 3% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $46,130. 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 $50,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| 25th percentile | $39,770 | $19.12 |
| Median | $47,710 | $22.94 |
| 75th percentile | $58,910 | $28.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,720 | $34.48 |
| Average (mean) | $50,000 | $24.04 |
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 | $3,975.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,987.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,835 |
| Weekly | $917.50 |
| Hourly | $22.94 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City, MO | $49,610 | 130 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $48,890 | 40 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $48,610 | 70 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $46,660 | 150 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $46,580 | 7,790 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $46,560 | 1,590 |
| Columbia, MO | $45,170 | 50 |
| Decatur, IL | $44,980 | 50 |
| Peoria, IL | $44,750 | 230 |
| Springfield, MO | $44,410 | 200 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $44,400 | 130 |
| Rockford, IL | $42,920 | 90 |
| 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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $39,200 | $18.84 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $45,260 | $21.76 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,210 | $36.16 |
| Machinist | $62,210 | $29.91 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,790 | $24.90 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,460 | $22.82 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $62,090 | $29.85 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,900 | $19.66 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,640 | $24.83 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $40,190 | $19.32 |
| Baker | $35,830 | $17.23 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,910 | $16.79 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $44,370 | $21.33 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for printing press operators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $47,710 a year, or $22.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $71,720 a year. The top 25% earn $58,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,340 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $39,770 or less.
How many printing press operators work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 1,570 printing press operators are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.