Printing Press Operators

Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.

Also called: Digital Press Operator, Flexographic Press Operator, Offset Press Operator, Offset Pressman, Press Operator, Pressman, Printer, Printing Press Operator, Printing Pressman, Web Press Operator, Aniline Press Worker, Back Up Machine Operator, Backer, Bag Press Operator, Bag Printer, Balloon Design Printer, Bander and Liner Operator, Ben-Day Artist, Binding Printer, Block Printer, Box Press Operator, Box Printer, Calico Printer, Carton Stamper, Cellophane Press Operator, Cloth Printer, Cloth Printing Back Tender, Collating Machine Operator, Collator, Collator Operator, Copper Plate Printer, Coverer, Cut and Print Machine Operator, Cut Pressman, Cut-Press Operator, Cutting and Printing Machine Operator, Cylinder Press Operator, Design Printing Machine Set-Up Operator, Design Printing Machine Setter, Die Mounter, Die Stamping Press Operator, Digital Color Press Operator, Digital Print Operator, Digital Printer Operator, Digital Production Operator, Duplex Trimmer, Electrotype Caster, Electrotype Finisher, Electrotype Molder, Electrotyper, Embosser, Embossing Machine Operator, Embossing Press Operator, Embossograph Operator, Engraver Set-Up Operator, Engraving Press Operator, Engrosser, Flexo Operator, Flexo Press Operator, Flexographic Press Set-Up Operator, Flexographic Printing Press Operator, Floor Covering Printer, Folding Rules Printing Machine Operator, Galley Worker, Gilder, Glove Printer, Gold Leaf Printer, Gravure Press Operator, Gravure Press Set-Up Operator, Identification Printing Machine Setter, Ink Printer, Instant Print Operator, Job Press Operator, Job Printer, Kelly Machine Operator, Label Printer, Large Sheetfed Press Operator, Laser Printing Operator, Letterer, Letterpress Setter, Letterset Press Set-Up Operator, Line-Up Examiner, Lithoduplicator Operator, Lithograph Press Feeder, Lithograph Press Operator, Lithograph Printer, Lithographic Press Operator, Lithographing Machine Operator, Lithoplate Maker, Machine Carton Marker, Machine Engraver, Machine Printer, Machine Sign Writer, Machine Silk Screen Printer, Marker, Marking Machine Operator, Microfiche Duplicator, Mounter, Music Copyist, Music Grapher, Name Plate Stamper, Nipping Machine Operator, Offset Duplicating Machine Operator, Offset Duplicating Machine Set Up Operator, Offset Lithographic Press Operator, Offset Lithographic Press Setter, Offset Lithographic Press Setup Operator, Offset Lithographic Set-Up Operator, Offset Machine Operator, Offset Printer, Offset Printing Operator, Offset-Press Operator, Pantograph Setter, Paper Products Printer, Photo Offset Printer, Photoengraving Sketch Maker, Photographic Process Screen Maker, Pin Ticket Machine Operator, Plastic Printer, Plastics Printer, Plate Printer, Plate Sensitizer, Plate Setter, Platen Press Feeder, Platen Press Operator, Precision Printing Worker, Prepress Proofer, Press Feeder, Press Technician, Pressfitter, Print Line Operator, Print Operator, Print Press Operator, Print Shop Operator, Printer Operator, Printer Slotter Operator, Printing and Publishing Sketch Maker, Printing Machine Operator, Printing Offset Duplicating Machine Operator, Printing Operator, Printing Plate Setter, Printing Press Machine Operator, Proof Press Operator, Proofer, Ratoprinter, Roller Operator, Roller Print Tender, Rolling Machine Operator, Rotary Lithographic Press Operator, Rotary Screen Printing Machine Operator, Rotogravure Press Operator, Rotoprinter, Rounder, Rounding Machine Operator, Rubber Printing Machine Operator, Screen Making Technician, Screen Print Operator, Screen Printer, Screen Printing Equipment Setter, Screen Printing Machine Operator, Screen Printing Press Operator, Semiconductor Package Symbol Stamper, Sheetfed Press Operator, Shift Operator, Silk Printer, Silk Screen Operator, Silk Screen Printer, Silk Screen Processor, Silk Screener, Sketch Maker, Specialty Materials Printing Machine Set-Up Operator, Specialty Materials Printing Machine Setter, Stamper, Stamping Press Operator, Steam Table Worker, Steel Die Press Set-Up Operator, Steel Die Printer, Steel Plate Printer, Stencil Machine Operator, Stencil Printer, Stereotype Caster, Stereotype Finisher, Stereotype Molder, Stereotyper, Stippler, Strickler Attendant, Strike Off Machine Operator, Strip Machine Operator, Striping Machine Operator, Tab Card Press Operator, Tab Cutting Machine Operator, Tag Press Operator, Tape Rules Printing Machine Operator, Tension Worker, Textile Screen Maker, Textile Screen Printer, Ticket Printer, Ticketer, Tinning Machine Set Up Operator, Tinware Lithograph Press Operator, Tip Printer, Transfer Machine Operator, Type Caster, Type Copyist, Typesetter, Vigoureux Printer, Wad Printing Machine Operator, Wallpaper Printer, Web Offset Press Feeder, Web Press Roll Tender, Webfed Offset Press Operator

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration.
Examine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions.
Adjust ink fountain flow rates.
Verify that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job.
Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments.
Feed paper through press cylinders and adjust feed and tension controls.
Monitor automated press operation systems and respond to fault, error, or alert messages.
Load presses with paper and make necessary adjustments, according to paper size.
Secure printing plates to printing units and adjust tolerances.
Clean ink fountains, plates, or printing unit cylinders when press runs are completed.

Skills, machines and equipment

Quality Control Analysis
Operations Monitoring
Monitoring
Operation and Control
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Equipment Maintenance
Troubleshooting
Repairing
Judgment and Decision Making

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (73.17% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

37,390–55,740 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-5112.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (73.17% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Printing Press Operators