Printing Press Operator salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Printing Press Operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $49,490 a year ($23.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $118,350 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $45,780. Pay here is 58% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $116,630. There are 0.54 printing press operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.59). The average (mean) salary is $60,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for printing press operators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| 25th percentile | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Median | $49,490 | $23.79 |
| 75th percentile | $66,480 | $31.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,350 | $56.90 |
| Average (mean) | $60,820 | $29.24 |
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 | $4,124.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,062.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,903.46 |
| Weekly | $951.73 |
| Hourly | $23.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,490 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia 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 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $48,610 | 2,910 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $48,260 | 590 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $48,020 | 110 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $47,950 | 210 |
| Roanoke, VA | $47,630 | 130 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $45,340 | 80 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $44,880 | 190 |
| Richmond, VA | $44,110 | 650 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $42,740 | 140 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $40,620 | 30 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $38,650 | 510 |
| Charleston, WV | $37,220 | 40 |
| 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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $49,420 | $23.76 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $70,670 | $33.98 |
| Baker | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,990 | $37.49 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $36,300 | $17.45 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,400 | $22.31 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $61,820 | $29.72 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $60,670 | $29.17 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $73,600 | $35.38 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $44,160 | $21.23 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $47,430 | $22.80 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $91,480 | $43.98 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $37,220 | $17.90 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $42,950 | $20.65 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for printing press operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $49,490 a year, or $23.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $118,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid printing press operators make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of printing press operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $118,350 a year. The top 25% earn $66,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for printing press operators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,960 a year, and a quarter of printing press operators earn $38,290 or less.
How many printing press operators work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 1,700 printing press operators are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.