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Printing Press Operator

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AVG. SALARY

$40,870

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EDUCATION

High school preferred +

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JOB OUTLOOK

Decreasing

What They Do

Printing Press Operators Career Video

About This Career

Sets up and operates digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.

This career is part of the Arts, Audio-Video Technology and Communications cluster Printing Technology pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Starts presses and pulls proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration.
  • Examines job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions.
  • Adjusts ink fountain flow rates.
  • Verifies that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job.
  • Collects and inspects random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments.
  • Feeds paper through press cylinders and adjusts feed and tension controls.
  • Monitors automated press operation systems and responds to fault, error, or alert messages.
  • Secures printing plates to printing units and adjusts tolerances.
  • Loads presses with paper and makes necessary adjustments, according to paper size.
  • Cleans ink fountains, plates, or printing unit cylinders when press runs are completed.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
  • Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
  • Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
  • Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
  • Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
  • Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
  • Seeing clearly at a distance
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects

Work Hours and Travel

  • Rotating shift work

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Flexographic Press Operator
  • Offset Pressman
  • Press Operator
  • Pressman
  • Printer
  • Printing Pressman
  • Digital Press Operator
  • Offset Press Operator
  • Web Press Operator

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

Support