Printing Press Operator salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Printing Press Operators in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn a median of $42,740 a year ($20.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,710 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 1% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $43,160. There are 1.1 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,580, close to the median.
Pay range for printing press operators in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,570 | $15.18 |
| 25th percentile | $35,200 | $16.92 |
| Median | $42,740 | $20.55 |
| 75th percentile | $48,860 | $23.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,710 | $24.86 |
| Average (mean) | $42,580 | $20.47 |
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 | $3,561.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,780.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,643.85 |
| Weekly | $821.92 |
| Hourly | $20.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,740 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VA | $64,180 | 130 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $58,850 | 70 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $49,490 | 1,700 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $48,620 | 110 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $48,020 | 110 |
| Roanoke, VA | $47,630 | 130 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $46,220 | 1,320 |
| Knoxville, TN | $45,920 | 360 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $45,340 | 80 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $44,880 | 190 |
| Richmond, VA | $44,110 | 650 |
| Morristown, TN | $43,990 | 90 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $43,450 | 500 |
| Jackson, TN | $39,360 | 120 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $38,650 | 510 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $37,020 | 380 |
| Johnson City, TN | $34,130 | 40 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $44,730 | $21.51 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,820 | $36.93 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,840 | $19.64 |
| Machinist | $57,890 | $27.83 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $55,690 | $26.78 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $37,490 | $18.02 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $43,920 | $21.12 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,440 | $21.85 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,750 | $22.96 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,530 | $20.93 |
| Baker | $28,100 | $13.51 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area is $42,740 a year, or $20.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn at least $51,710 a year. The top 25% earn $48,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,570 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $35,200 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
About 140 printing press operators are employed in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.