Printing Press Operator salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Printing Press Operators in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $40,540 a year ($19.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,630 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 1% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $40,790. There are 1.1 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $42,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,530 | $14.68 |
| 25th percentile | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Median | $40,540 | $19.49 |
| 75th percentile | $48,010 | $23.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,630 | $27.71 |
| Average (mean) | $42,240 | $20.31 |
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 | $3,378.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,689.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,559.23 |
| Weekly | $779.62 |
| Hourly | $19.49 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | $47,780 | 100 |
| Ames, IA | $46,850 | 150 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $43,450 | 520 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $42,970 | 260 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $42,070 | 1,680 |
| Dubuque, IA | $40,560 | 50 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $38,230 | 50 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $37,710 | 150 |
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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $31,030 | $14.92 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $50,310 | $24.19 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $51,600 | $24.81 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,250 | $24.64 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,080 | $24.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,370 | $36.24 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $48,520 | $23.33 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $48,300 | $23.22 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $46,620 | $22.41 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $50,400 | $24.23 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,130 | $17.85 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,330 | $23.72 |
| Machinist | $58,100 | $27.93 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $40,540 a year, or $19.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $57,630 a year. The top 25% earn $48,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,530 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $35,800 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 90 printing press operators are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.