Press Operator III Salary in Lakewood, NM

How much does a Press Operator III make in Lakewood, NM?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Press Operator III in Lakewood, NM is $53,631 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

However, a Press Operator III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $63,882
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,325 to $58,997
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,583
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View as table View as graph 25% $47,325 10% $41,583 90% $63,882 75% $58,997 $53,631 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Press Operator III Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $58,997 $4,916 $1,135 $28
Average $53,631 $4,469 $1,031 $26
25th Percentile $47,325 $3,944 $910 $23
Check out Press Operator III Job Openings in Lakewood, NM
Control Press Operator

Arcosa Inc. - Belen, NM

Stamp Press Operator

Monti, Inc. - Santa Teresa, NM

Stamp Press Operator

Monti, Inc. - Santa Teresa, NM

First Stamp Press Operator

Monti, Inc. - Santa Teresa, NM

Search More Press Operator III Jobs in Lakewood, NM

Key Factors That Influence Press Operator III Salaries

A Press Operator III's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Press Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Press Operator III's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Press Operator I (1-3 years): $40,086
  • Press Operator II (3-5 years): $44,340
  • Press Operator III (5-7 years): $53,631
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Press Operator I1-3 years$40,086
Press Operator II3-5 years$44,340
Press Operator III5-7 years$53,631
$40,086 Press Ope...
$44,340 Press Ope...
$53,631 Press Ope...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Press Operator IIIs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $77,132
  • San Francisco: $76,374
  • Oakland: $74,680

What Skills Can Increase a Press Operator III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Problem Solving (Mentioned in 4.72% Job Postings): Analyzing and identifying the root cause of problems and applying critical thinking skills to solve problems.
  • Injection Molding (Mentioned in 2.94% Job Postings): Injection moulding is a manufacturing process for producing parts by injecting molten material into a mould. Injection moulding can be performed with a host of materials mainly including metals (for which the process is called die-casting), glasses, elastomers, confections, and most commonly thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers. Material for the part is fed into a heated barrel, mixed (Using a helical shaped screw), and injected (Forced) into a mould cavity, where it cools and hardens to the configuration of the cavity.:240 After a product is designed, usually by an industrial designer or an engineer, moulds are made by a mould-maker (or toolmaker) from metal, usually either steel or aluminium, and precision-machined to form the features of the desired part. Injection moulding is widely used for manufacturing a variety of parts, from the smallest components to entire body panels of cars. Advances in 3D printing technology, using photopolymers which do not melt during the injection moulding of some lower temperature thermoplastics, can be used for some simple injection moulds.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 1.86% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Problem Solving 4.72%
Injection Molding 2.94%
Continuous Improvement 1.86%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Press Operator III's salary.
  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 78%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 78%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 69%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Alignment
$95,464
78%
Innovation
$95,464
78%
Commitment
$90,637
69%
Continuous Improvement
$84,737
58%
Planning
$74,547
39%
Leadership
$71,329
33%
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Press Operator III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Press Operator III's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Press Operator III Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Press Operator III, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Press Operator III Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Machine Operator Supervisor $70,552 32%
Machine Shop Production Supervisor I $57,558 7%
Packaging Supervisor $74,005 38%

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Cost of Living In Lakewood, NM

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