Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Printing Press Operator in Illinois is $38,918 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.
However, a Printing Press Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Recruit with AI
Printing Press Operator Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $42,262 | $3,522 | $813 | $20 |
| Average | $38,918 | $3,243 | $748 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,163 | $2,930 | $676 | $17 |
Labelmaster - Chicago, IL
AHU Technologies, Inc. - Valmeyer, IL
Winpak Ltd - Pekin, IL
Aerotek - Arlington Heights, IL
A Printing Press Operator'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Printing Press Operator'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Printing Press Operator | $38,292 |
| Intermediate Level Printing Press Operator | $39,444 |
| Senior Level Printing Press Operator | $41,624 |
| Specialist Level Printing Press Operator | $41,943 |
| Expert Level Printing Press Operator | $42,102 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Printing Press Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Printing Press Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Telecom and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Printing Press Operator positions in Retail & Wholesale or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Printing Press Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telecom | $48,647 | $23.0 | 25% |
| Biotechnology | $46,701 | $22.0 | 20% |
| Financial Services | $46,701 | $22.0 | 20% |
| Internet | $44,756 | $22.0 | 15% |
| Software & Networking | $44,756 | $22.0 | 15% |
Understanding how a Printing Press Operator'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $42,262 | $3,522 | $813 | $20 |
| Average | $38,918 | $3,243 | $748 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,163 | $2,930 | $676 | $17 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Printing Press Operator job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
PPC Flexible Packaging
Buffalo Grove, IL
PPC Flexible Packaging | Buffalo Grove, IL
Press Operator. Press Operator is responsible to safely operate, set up, and care for the printing press machines and direct the press assistants to ensure... more
6 Days Ago
Freedom Graphic Systems
Aurora, IL
Freedom Graphic Systems | Aurora, IL
Commercial Web Press Operators. Freedom is proud to be one of the largest, privately held direct mail service providers in the United States. We are a fami... more
6 Days Ago
Pactiv Evergreen
St. Charles, IL
Pactiv Evergreen | St. Charles, IL
Pactiv Evergreen - - Responsibilities: Operate and monitor a zone of press machines and troubleshoot issues to maintain production output. Perform quality ... more
6 Days Ago
Advance Services
Bushnell, IL
Advance Services | Bushnell, IL
Press Operator. Bushnell, IL 61422. Job Number: 293671 Pay Rate: $21.00. Job Description. 1st shift Press Operator - Bushnell IL Pay: $20/hr. Shift: Monday... more
7 Days Ago
Staffmark
Crystal Lake, IL
Staffmark | Crystal Lake, IL
Now Hiring Press OperatorLake Zurich, ILPay Rate:$16.00 - $20.00 per hourShift:2nd shift Monday to Friday 2 pm-10:30 pm 16-20 (based on experience)3rd shif... more
8 Days Ago
Amcor
Mundelein, IL
Amcor | Mundelein, IL
Job DescriptionJob DescriptionCome grow with us at Amcor Mundelein. Start your career with a global leader in flexible packaging. Enjoy a safe, clean and t... more
8 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
