Press Operator Salary in the United States

How much does a Press Operator make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Press Operator in the United States is $50,158 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $61,026
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $45,499 to $55,847
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,257
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View as table View as graph 25% $45,499 10% $41,257 90% $61,026 75% $55,847 $50,158 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Press Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $55,847 $4,654 $1,074 $27
Average $50,158 $4,180 $965 $24
25th Percentile $45,499 $3,792 $875 $22
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Key Factors That Influence Press Operator Salaries

A 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, education 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'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $49,392
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $49,907
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $51,162
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $51,413
  • Expert (over 8 years): $51,580
Levels Salary
Entry Level Press Operator$49,392
Intermediate Level Press Operator$49,907
Senior Level Press Operator$51,162
Specialist Level Press Operator$51,413
Expert Level Press Operator$51,580
$49,392 0 yr
$49,907 < 2 yrs
$51,162 2-4 yrs
$51,413 5-8 yrs
$51,580 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Press Operators

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: $63,265
  • San Francisco: $62,643
  • Oakland: $61,253

What Skills Can Increase a Press Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Problem Solving (Mentioned in 4.68% Job Postings): Analyzing and identifying the root cause of problems and applying critical thinking skills to solve problems.
  • Quality Control (Mentioned in 2.81% Job Postings): Developing and implementing a set of procedures intended to maintain the quality of a product and reduce any risks or errors.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 1.94% 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 4.68%
Quality Control 2.81%
Continuous Improvement 1.94%
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's salary.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Customer Service: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Time Management
$52,666
5%
Leadership
$52,165
4%
Customer Service
$51,663
3%
Decision Making
$51,663
3%
Data Collection
$51,663
3%
Empowerment
$51,663
3%
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How Education impacts a Press Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Press Operators enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Press Operator with a No Diploma is between $47,640 and $51,153).

Press Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Press Operator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.7%
High School 66.7%
Associates 25.9%
Bachelors 3.7%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Press Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a 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.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Press Operator

Salaries for a Press Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $46,722 in 2023 to around $46,277 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Press Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Press Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$46,722
2024
$46,588
2025
$46,277
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $46,722
2024 $46,588
2025 $46,277
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Press Operator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Press Operator

Here are companies hiring for Press Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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