Printing-machine operators

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January 9, 2009

Printing-machine operators

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Pay: The 1,550 press operators in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area earned a median wage of $18.36 an hour or $38,180 a year in May 2007, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle 50 percent earned between $28,180 and $46,920.

The job: Printing-machine operators, also known as press operators, prepare, operate and maintain printing presses. Large newspaper, magazine, and book printers use giant "in-line web" presses that require a crew of operators and assistants. Other processes are used by quick-printing shops and smaller printing shops and can be operated by a single person. Operating a press can be physically and mentally demanding.

Demand: Employment is projected to decline moderately through 2016, as newer printing presses require fewer operators. But job opportunities should be favorable because of retirements and the need for workers trained on increasingly computerized printing equipment.

Training: Employers prefer that beginners complete a formal apprenticeship or a postsecondary program, but most press operators are trained on the job.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: www.stats.bls.gov/oco