Printing Press Operator salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Printing Press Operators in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $43,480 a year ($20.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,420 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 6% lower than the California statewide median of $46,110. There are 0.69 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $47,410, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| 25th percentile | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| Median | $43,480 | $20.91 |
| 75th percentile | $49,190 | $23.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Average (mean) | $47,410 | $22.79 |
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 | $3,623.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,811.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,672.31 |
| Weekly | $836.15 |
| Hourly | $20.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $43,480 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | $50,640 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $50,280 | 1,050 |
| Visalia, CA | $49,680 | 140 |
| Napa, CA | $48,600 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $48,570 | 130 |
| Modesto, CA | $46,670 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,440 | 590 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,200 | 6,140 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,110 | 930 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $46,110 | 90 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $45,540 | 80 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $45,530 | 70 |
| Vallejo, CA | $45,240 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | $45,060 | 180 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $45,030 | 990 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,890 | 250 |
| Chico, CA | $44,550 | 60 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,130 | 670 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $39,680 | 110 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,610 | $20.96 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| Baker | $42,920 | $20.63 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,690 | $35.91 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,210 | $24.62 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $44,260 | $21.28 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $37,910 | $18.23 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,700 | $19.09 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $55,560 | $26.71 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,840 | $24.44 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $94,060 | $45.22 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $49,340 | $23.72 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $59,280 | $28.50 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $43,480 a year, or $20.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $64,420 a year. The top 25% earn $49,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,310 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $38,650 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 70 printing press operators are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.