Best institutions to study Printing Press Operator
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to set up, operate, and maintain printing presses.
2 U.S. institutions graduated 9 Printing Press Operator students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 10.0307, a specialization of Graphic Communications (CIP 10.03), and leads most directly to the Printing Press Operators occupation (BLS SOC 51-5112).
About Printing Press Operator programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to set up, operate, and maintain printing presses.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Printing Press Operator program, part of the Graphic Communications field, prepares individuals to apply technical skills in setting up, operating, and maintaining printing presses. This program is ideal for those interested in the technical aspects of printing and production processes, providing a foundation for a career in the communications technologies sector.
Students in this program will develop core skills in monitoring, critical thinking, and active listening. Coursework includes knowledge of mechanical processes, production and processing techniques, and customer service, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for the demands of the printing industry.
Credentials awarded
What Printing Press Operator graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree7 graduates / yr · 1 institution78%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year2 graduates / yr · 1 institution22%
Graduates over time
Printing Press Operator completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 109 |
| 2013 | 85 |
| 2014 | 54 |
| 2015 | 33 |
| 2016 | 65 |
| 2017 | 35 |
| 2018 | 50 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 46 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 9 |
Top 2 institutions for Printing Press 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairmont State University Fairmont, WVPublicBachelor's | 7 | 44% | — |
| 2 | Augusta Technical College Augusta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 31% | — |
Offered in 2 states
Where Printing Press Operator graduates come from. Each state links to all Graphic Communications programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 1 | 7 | Fairmont State University7 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 2 | Augusta Technical College2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 51-5112, Printing Press Operators, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers as Printing Press Operators or Prepress Technicians. While the job outlook for this field indicates a decline of 8.1%, there are approximately 13,700 annual openings. The median wage for Printing Press Operators is $45,160, with a typical education requirement of a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 10.0307
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 |
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 Printing Press 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 and Printing Equipment OperatorCIP 10.0305252 graduates / yr19 institutions
- Graphic CommunicationsCIP 10.0399170 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Printing ManagementCIP 10.0302partial data56 graduates / yr3 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 do I earn from this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in monitoring, active listening, critical thinking, and more.
What is the job outlook for Printing Press Operators?+
The job outlook indicates a decline of 8.1%, with about 13,700 annual openings.
What is the median wage for this career?+
The median wage for Printing Press Operators is $45,160.
What is the CIP code for Printing Press Operator?+
Printing Press Operator is CIP 10.0307 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 prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to set up, operate, and maintain printing presses.
How many institutions offer Printing Press Operator programs?+
2 U.S. institutions reported Printing Press Operator graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 9 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Graphic Communications graduates.
How much do Printing Press Operator graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Printing Press Operators occupation, which Printing Press Operator most directly leads to, pays a median of $45,780 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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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