Printing Press Operator salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Printing Press Operators in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median of $48,110 a year ($23.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,960 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is about the same as the Kentucky statewide median of $48,000. There are 2.0 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $51,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| 25th percentile | $45,440 | $21.84 |
| Median | $48,110 | $23.13 |
| 75th percentile | $60,260 | $28.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,960 | $30.75 |
| Average (mean) | $51,190 | $24.61 |
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 | $4,009.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,004.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,850.38 |
| Weekly | $925.19 |
| Hourly | $23.13 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,110 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $48,890 | 1,730 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $48,890 | 40 |
| Evansville, IN | $48,770 | 410 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $48,620 | 110 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $47,400 | 350 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $46,580 | 7,790 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $46,360 | 300 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $45,150 | 340 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $45,140 | 160 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $45,100 | 90 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $44,810 | 1,770 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $43,990 | 100 |
| Bloomington, IN | $42,510 | 50 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $39,100 | 70 |
| Muncie, IN | $35,750 | 80 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $35,040 | 60 |
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 Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $47,270 | $22.73 |
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $46,120 | $22.17 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,010 | $36.06 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,870 | $24.46 |
| Food Batchmaker | $46,540 | $22.38 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,180 | $23.65 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $42,510 | $20.44 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,160 | $19.31 |
| Machinist | $60,500 | $29.09 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $63,490 | $30.52 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $48,110 a year, or $23.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn at least $63,960 a year. The top 25% earn $60,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,900 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $45,440 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
About 1,340 printing press operators are employed in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.