Printing Press Operator salary in Iowa City, IA
Printing Press Operators in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn a median of $47,780 a year ($22.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,720 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 17% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $40,790. There are 1.1 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $46,440, close to the median.
Pay range for printing press operators in Iowa City, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,540 | $16.13 |
| 25th percentile | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| Median | $47,780 | $22.97 |
| 75th percentile | $55,260 | $26.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,720 | $28.71 |
| Average (mean) | $46,440 | $22.33 |
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 | $3,981.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,990.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,837.69 |
| Weekly | $918.85 |
| Hourly | $22.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,780 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | $46,850 | 150 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $43,450 | 520 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $42,970 | 260 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $42,070 | 1,680 |
| Dubuque, IA | $40,560 | 50 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $40,540 | 90 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $38,230 | 50 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $37,710 | 150 |
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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Iowa City, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,620 | $21.45 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $68,960 | $33.16 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,270 | $23.69 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| Baker | $37,140 | $17.85 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $37,430 | $18.00 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,550 | $18.54 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $63,450 | $30.51 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,570 | $24.79 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $35,040 | $16.85 |
| Food Batchmaker | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,430 | $24.25 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Iowa City, IA
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 Iowa City, IA?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Iowa City, IA metro area is $47,780 a year, or $22.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Iowa City, IA?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn at least $59,720 a year. The top 25% earn $55,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Iowa City, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,540 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $35,810 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Iowa City, IA?
About 100 printing press operators are employed in the Iowa City, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.