Best institutions to study Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator
A program that generally prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to plan, prepare, and execute a variety of commercial and industrial graphic communications jobs.
19 U.S. institutions graduated 252 Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 10.0305, a specialization of Graphic Communications (CIP 10.03), and leads most directly to the Printing Press Operators occupation (BLS SOC 51-5112).
About Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator programs
A program that generally prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to plan, prepare, and execute a variety of commercial and industrial graphic communications jobs. Includes instruction in the operation and maintenance of mechanical, electronic, and digital graphic, printing, and finishing equipment; and related processes.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator program, part of the Graphic Communications field, prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills in various commercial and industrial graphic communications roles. This program is ideal for those interested in the operation and maintenance of graphic, printing, and finishing equipment.
Students will gain core skills in monitoring, active listening, and critical thinking, alongside knowledge in mechanical systems, production processes, and customer service. Coursework typically includes hands-on training with printing equipment and techniques.
Credentials awarded
What Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree107 graduates / yr · 10 institutions43%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year70 graduates / yr · 7 institutions28%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years54 graduates / yr · 6 institutions21%
- Bachelor's degree21 graduates / yr · 1 institution8.3%
Graduates over time
Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 651 |
| 2013 | 488 |
| 2014 | 386 |
| 2015 | 380 |
| 2016 | 386 |
| 2017 | 409 |
| 2018 | 352 |
| 2019 | 406 |
| 2020 | 376 |
| 2021 | 419 |
| 2022 | 337 |
| 2023 | 262 |
| 2024 | 314 |
| 2025 | 252 |
Top 19 institutions for Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus State Community College Columbus, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 69 | 28% | — | — |
| 2 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine, ILPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 22 | 48% | — | — |
| 3 | University of Puerto Rico - Carolina Carolina, PRPublicBachelor's | 21 | 37% | — | — |
| 4 | Riverside City College Riverside, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 17 | 37% | — | — |
| 5 | Orange County Community College Middletown, NYPublicAssociate's | 17 | 25% | — | $22,181 |
| 6 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PAPublicAssociate's | 17 | 71% | — | $26,870 |
| 7 | Central Texas College Killeen, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 17 | 11% | — | — |
| 8 | William T McFatter Technical College Davie, FLPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 13 | 66% | — | — |
| 9 | Fulton - Montgomery Community College Johnstown, NYPublicAssociate's | 13 | 40% | — | — |
| 10 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 51% | — | — |
| 11 | Flint Hills Technical College Emporia, KSPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 10 | 68% | — | — |
| 12 | Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TXPublicAssociate's | 10 | 34% | — | — |
| 13 | Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 3 | 17% | — | — |
| 14 | Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center Cape Girardeau, MOPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 3 | 71% | — | — |
| 15 | Fullerton College Fullerton, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 34% | — | — |
| 16 | Mineral Area College Park Hills, MOPublicAssociate's | 2 | 49% | — | — |
| 17 | Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas Helena, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 55% | — | — |
| 18 | Fresno City College Fresno, CAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 24% | — | — |
| 19 | Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 48% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Graphic Communications field (CIP 10.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 13 states & territories
Where Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator graduates come from. Each state links to all Graphic Communications programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 1 | 69 | Columbus State Community College69 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 30 | Orange County Community College17 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 27 | Central Texas College17 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 22 | William Rainey Harper College22 / yr |
| California | 4 | 21 | Riverside City College17 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 21 | University of Puerto Rico - Carolina21 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 17 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology17 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 13 | William T McFatter Technical College13 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 13 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College13 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 10 | Flint Hills Technical College10 / yr |
| Missouri | 2 | 5 | Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center3 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 3 | Scottsdale Community College3 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 1 | Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 51-5112, Printing Press Operators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Printing Press Operators, with an annual median wage of $45,160. The job outlook indicates a decline of 8.1%, with approximately 13,700 annual openings expected. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 10.0305
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Printing Press Operatorsprimary SOC 51-5112 | $45,780 | -8.1% Decline | ~13,700 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Data Entry Keyers SOC 43-9021 | $41,340 | -25.9% Decline | ~9,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Prepress Technicians and Workers SOC 51-5111 | $48,690 | -14.6% Decline | ~2,800 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration.
- Examine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions.
- Adjust ink fountain flow rates.
- Verify that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job.
- Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments.
- Feed paper through press cylinders and adjust feed and tension controls.
Tools and technology used
Other Graphic Communications specializations
The 8 other 6-digit CIP codes under Graphic Communications (CIP 10.03).
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special EffectsCIP 10.03046,849 graduates / yr250 institutions
- Prepress/CIP 10.0303
Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design 1,335 graduates / yr83 institutions - Graphic CommunicationsCIP 10.0301455 graduates / yr29 institutions
- Graphic CommunicationsCIP 10.0399170 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Printing ManagementCIP 10.0302partial data56 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Printing Press OperatorCIP 10.0307limited data9 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Platemaker/CIP 10.0306
Imager limited data7 graduates / yr2 institutions - Computer Typography and Composition Equipment OperatorCIP 10.0308limited data7 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What degree can I earn from this program?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, or an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in monitoring, active listening, critical thinking, and various technical competencies related to graphic communications.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Printing Press Operator, Data Entry Keyer, or Prepress Technician.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 8.1%, with about 13,700 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator?+
Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator is CIP 10.0305 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Graphic Communications (CIP 10.03). NCES defines it as: A program that generally prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to plan, prepare, and execute a variety of commercial and industrial graphic communications jobs. Includes instruction in the operation and maintenance of mechanical, electronic, and digital graphic, printing, and finishing equipment; and related processes.
How many institutions offer Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator programs?+
19 U.S. institutions reported Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 13 states & territories, awarding 252 credentials in the year. That is 2.8% of all Graphic Communications graduates.
How much do Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Printing Press Operators occupation, which Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator most directly leads to, pays a median of $45,780 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Graphic Communications field report median earnings of $26,870 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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