Printing Press Operator salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Printing Press Operators in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median of $42,540 a year ($20.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,060 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 5% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $40,470. There are 0.32 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.35). The average (mean) salary is $42,080, close to the median.
Pay range for printing press operators in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,710 | $14.28 |
| 25th percentile | $33,230 | $15.98 |
| Median | $42,540 | $20.45 |
| 75th percentile | $49,290 | $23.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,060 | $26.95 |
| Average (mean) | $42,080 | $20.23 |
Half of printing press operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,545 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,772.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,636.15 |
| Weekly | $818.08 |
| Hourly | $20.45 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,540 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Printing Press Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg, SC | $46,100 | 170 |
| Columbia, SC | $44,250 | 340 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $43,590 | 1,580 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $43,580 | 490 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $42,240 | 40 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $38,100 | 40 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $36,940 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for printing press operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $116,630 |
| Massachusetts | $53,050 |
| New Jersey | $50,430 |
| Washington | $49,800 |
| Oregon | $48,760 |
| Minnesota | $48,560 |
| New Hampshire | $48,410 |
| Kentucky | $48,000 |
| Colorado | $47,860 |
| New York | $47,860 |
See Printing Press Operator pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,180 | $23.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,990 | $38.46 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,470 | $24.26 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $56,060 | $26.95 |
| Baker | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $33,790 | $16.25 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,850 | $20.60 |
| Machinist | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $51,790 | $24.90 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $40,970 | $19.70 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $37,880 | $18.21 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $38,110 | $18.32 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $57,410 | $27.60 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-5112. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a printing press operator make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $42,540 a year, or $20.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn at least $56,060 a year. The top 25% earn $49,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,710 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $33,230 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
About 130 printing press operators are employed in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.