Printing Press Operators Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $47,930 +6.1% vs national
Median hourly $23.04
10th percentile $30,110
90th percentile $77,590
Employed locally 8,170
National median $45,160

Compare Printing Press Operators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Chicago, IL-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Printing Press Operators
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Chicago, IL-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,110
    25th
    $36,970
    50th (median)
    $47,930
    75th
    $58,370
    90th
    $77,590

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Printing Press Operators salary vs area income 54% Median Printing Press Operators salary is 46% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Printing Press Operators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $115,770
    Harrisonburg, VA $62,100
    Rochester, MN $58,820
    Napa, CA $57,010
    Modesto, CA $55,730
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $55,280

    Nearby metros — Printing Press Operators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Janesville-Beloit, WI $50,470
    Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area $49,730
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $49,080
    Paducah, KY-IL $48,890
    Decatur, IL $48,690
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $48,690

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $40,560
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $72,760
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $42,110
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $47,330
    Machinists $57,470
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $39,530

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Printing Press Operators make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Printing Press Operators in Chicago, IL-IN is $23.04, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.06 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Printing Press Operators salaries?

    The median Printing Press Operators salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 6.1% above the national median of $45,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Printing Press Operators in Chicago?

    Entry-level Printing Press Operators (10th percentile) earn around $30,110 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,970.