Printing Press Operator salary in Wilmington, NC
Printing Press Operators in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $38,780 a year ($18.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,780 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 15% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $45,630. There are 0.49 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $39,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,900 | $12.45 |
| 25th percentile | $27,150 | $13.06 |
| Median | $38,780 | $18.64 |
| 75th percentile | $48,330 | $23.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,780 | $26.82 |
| Average (mean) | $39,670 | $19.07 |
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 | $3,231.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,615.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,491.54 |
| Weekly | $745.77 |
| Hourly | $18.64 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $48,980 | 250 |
| Burlington, NC | $48,650 | 90 |
| Asheville, NC | $47,440 | 190 |
| Greenville, NC | $47,030 | 60 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $46,430 | 250 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $45,960 | 380 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $45,600 | 630 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $44,640 | 30 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $43,590 | 1,580 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $43,440 | 250 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $42,250 | 40 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $38,650 | 510 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,310 | $34.77 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $57,840 | $27.81 |
| Baker | $34,430 | $16.55 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $55,340 | $26.60 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,320 | $21.79 |
| Machinist | $62,810 | $30.20 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $60,190 | $28.94 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $38,790 | $18.65 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,850 | $18.68 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $56,990 | $27.40 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,390 | $24.23 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, NC
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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $38,780 a year, or $18.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $55,780 a year. The top 25% earn $48,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,900 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $27,150 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Wilmington, NC?
About 90 printing press operators are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.