Printing Press Operator salary in Washington
Printing Press Operators in Washington earn a median of $49,800 a year ($23.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,310 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,030 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $45,780. Washington ranks 4th of 51 states for printing press operators pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. 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 $53,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,660 | $19.07 |
| 25th percentile | $46,120 | $22.17 |
| Median | $49,800 | $23.94 |
| 75th percentile | $60,130 | $28.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,030 | $33.67 |
| Average (mean) | $53,310 | $25.63 |
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 | $4,150 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,075 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,915.38 |
| Weekly | $957.69 |
| Hourly | $23.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Printing Press Operator salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $52,040 | 1,410 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $49,750 | 50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $49,670 | 1,030 |
| Bellingham, WA | $48,420 | 40 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $47,910 | 80 |
| Yakima, WA | $47,540 | 80 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $47,030 | 170 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $45,050 | 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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $45,300 | $21.78 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $53,770 | $25.85 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,310 | $38.13 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,700 | $20.05 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $63,020 | $30.30 |
| Machinist | $66,160 | $31.81 |
| Baker | $46,140 | $22.18 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $52,480 | $25.23 |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,710 | $20.53 |
| Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | $110,470 | $53.11 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $59,980 | $28.84 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $39,590 | $19.04 |
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 Washington?
The median salary for printing press operators in Washington is $49,800 a year, or $23.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Washington?
The top 10% of printing press operators in Washington earn at least $70,030 a year. The top 25% earn $60,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,660 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $46,120 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Washington?
About 2,310 printing press operators are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.