Description

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

Interests

Conventional
Realistic

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Work Values

Support
Achievement
Independence

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Work Styles

Attention to Detail
Dependability
Independence
Integrity
Stress Tolerance

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Tasks

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.

Work Activities

Controlling Machines and Processes
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Getting Information
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Scheduling Work and Activities

Detailed Work Activities

Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Technology Skills

Graphics or photo imaging software
Desktop publishing software
Document management software
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Electronic mail software

Skills

Quality Control Analysis
Operations Monitoring
Monitoring
Operation and Control
Active Listening

Knowledge

Mechanical
Production and Processing

Most Common Education Level

The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.

Certificates

These are the certification(s) applicable to Printing Press Operators:

Certificate name

Certified Graphics Communications Manager

Certifying Organization

In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association

Type

Advanced

Certificate name

PrePress Operator Certification

Certifying Organization

Flexographic Technical Association

Type

Advanced

Certificate name

Press Operator Certification

Certifying Organization

Flexographic Technical Association

Type

Core

Certificate name

Implementation Specialist Certification

Certifying Organization

Flexographic Technical Association

Type

Advanced

Certificate name	Certifying Organization	Type
Certified Graphics Communications Manager	In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association	Advanced
PrePress Operator Certification	Flexographic Technical Association	Advanced
Press Operator Certification	Flexographic Technical Association	Core
Implementation Specialist Certification	Flexographic Technical Association	Advanced

Income Percentile

The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.

Income Percentile	Income
Low (10%)	$NaN
Median (50%)	$NaN
High (90%)	$NaN

Income by Experience

This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–7 years), to senior level (8+ years).

Experience	Income
Entry Level	$50,000
Mid Level	$100,000
Senior Level	$150,000

Employability

There are currently 156,200 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to decrease to 141,300 positions, reflecting a projected decline of -10%.

The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.

Projected Job Growth of -10%

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Median Annual Income

$47,040

Projected Job Growth

-8 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate, or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material.

RealisticConventional

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Median Annual Income

$42,400

Projected Job Growth

-11 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

RealisticConventional

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Median Annual Income

$47,200

Projected Job Growth

-13 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.

RealisticConventional

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Median Annual Income

$41,600

Projected Job Growth

+2 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend more than one type of cutting or forming machine tool or robot.

RealisticConventional

Prepress Technicians and Workers

Median Annual Income

$45,070

Projected Job Growth

-19 %

Career Cluster(s)

Arts, Entertainment, & Design

Most Common Education Level

Postsecondary certificate

Format and proof text and images submitted by designers and clients into finished pages that can be printed. Includes digital and photo typesetting. May produce printing plates.

ConventionalRealistic

Print Binding and Finishing Workers

Median Annual Income

$38,100

Projected Job Growth

-18 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine. May set up binding and finishing machines.

RealisticConventional

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$44,310

Projected Job Growth

-3 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.

RealisticConventional

Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

Median Annual Income

$35,620

Projected Job Growth

+2 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media. May perform precision tasks such as editing photographic negatives and prints.

RealisticConventionalArtistic

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$43,540

Projected Job Growth

-1 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Operate or tend bonding machines that use adhesives to join items for further processing or to form a completed product. Processes include joining veneer sheets into plywood; gluing paper; or joining rubber and rubberized fabric parts, plastic, simulated leather, or other materials.

RealisticConventional

Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Median Annual Income

$47,250

Projected Job Growth

-13 %

Career Cluster(s)

Advanced Manufacturing

Most Common Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent

Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products.

RealisticConventional

The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), with ONET® being a registered trademark of USDOL/ETA. Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA; CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED); and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).