Occupation Summary

Printing Press Operators

O*NET 51-5112.00

Description:

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

Annual Wages:
$42,002.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 7.01%.
Education Level:
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Adjust digital files to alter print elements, such as fonts, graphics, or color separations.
  2. Adjust ink fountain flow rates.
  3. Change press plates, blankets, or cylinders, as required.
  4. Clean ink fountains, plates, or printing unit cylinders when press runs are completed.
  5. Clean or oil presses or make minor repairs, using hand tools.
  6. Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments.
  7. Download or scan files to be printed, using printing production software.
  8. Examine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions.
  9. Feed paper through press cylinders and adjust feed and tension controls.
  10. Input production job settings into workstation terminals that control automated printing systems.
  11. Load presses with paper and make necessary adjustments, according to paper size.
  12. Monitor automated press operation systems and respond to fault, error, or alert messages.
  13. Obtain or mix inks and fill ink fountains.
  14. Secure printing plates to printing units and adjust tolerances.
  15. Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration.
  16. Verify that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job.
  17. Control workflow scheduling or job tracking, using computer database software.
  18. Direct or monitor work of press crews.
  19. Download completed jobs to archive media so that questions can be answered or jobs replicated.
  20. Maintain time or production records.
  21. Monitor environmental factors, such as humidity and temperature, that may impact equipment performance and make necessary adjustments.
  22. Monitor inventory levels on a regular basis, ordering or requesting additional supplies, as necessary.
  23. Set up or operate auxiliary equipment, such as cutting, folding, plate-making, drilling, or laminating machines.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Printing Press Operators employed Annual Growth Rate
Converted paper product manufacturing 7.2 -0.74
Advertising, public relations, and related services 4 1.06
Plastics product manufacturing 3 0.43
Employment services 3 0.22


Labor Market Information


2023 Statewide average hourly wage $20.19
2023 National average hourly wage $21.37
2022 National employment 155,500
2022 Texas employment 9,531
Texas projected employment by 2032 10,199
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 1,110




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
76.60%
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
73.20%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
57.20%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
56.00%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
55.00%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
54.80%
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
49.40%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
42.00%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
41.60%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
41.60%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
77.60%
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
72.40%
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
65.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
65.00%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
62.40%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
62.40%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
62.40%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
62.40%
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
62.40%
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
62.40%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
80.00%
Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
70.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
67.60%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
65.00%
Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
65.00%
Finger Dexterity
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
62.40%
Multilimb Coordination
The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
62.40%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
62.40%
Visualization
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
62.40%
Selective Attention
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
62.40%


  • Controlling Machines and Processes
    -- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    -- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Scheduling Work and Activities
    -- Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Other Activities


  • Achievement
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Acoustic ear muffs or defenders: Acoustic ear muffs or defenders;

Adjustable wrenches: Adjustable crescent wrenches; Adjustable wrenches;

Air dryers: Air knives; Infrared dryers;

Ball peen hammer: Ball peen hammers;

Belt conveyors: Material conveyors; Materials conveyors;

Claw hammer: Claw hammers;

Conductivity meters: Conductivity indicators;

Dating or numbering machines: Numbering machines;

Densitometers: Densitometers; Printing densitometers;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Digital cameras: Digital cameras;

Document camera: Process cameras;

Ear plugs: Ear plugs;

Flexographic printer: Flexo presses; Flexographic presses;

Grease guns: Grease dispensing guns; Grease guns;

Hand trucks or accessories: Hand trucks;

Height gauges: Packing gauges;

Hex keys: Allen wrenches;

High capacity removable media drives: Universal serial bus USB flash drives;

Hoists: Hoists; Chain hoists;

Industrial shrink wrap equipment: Shrink wrap machines;

Laminators: Laminating machines; Laminators;

Laser printers: Large format printers;

Letter folders: Paper folders;

Letterpress equipment: Letter presses; Digital letterpresses;

Levels: Torpedo levels;

Lifts: Electric lifts;

Locking pliers: Vise grip pliers;

Magnifiers: Handheld magnifiers;

Micrometers: Printing micrometers; Micrometers;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Offset printing plate processors: Offset printing plate processing equipment;

Offset printing presses: Offset presses; Offset printing equipment; Platen presses; Roll-fed offset presses; Sheet-fed presses; Web presses;

Pad printer: Pad printing machines;

Pallet trucks: Pallet jacks;

Paper cutting machines or accessories: Paper cutting machines;

Paper drilling machines: Paper drills;

Paper jogging machines: Paper joggers; Back joggers;

Perforating machines: Perforators;

Personal computers: Personal computers; Workstation platforms;

pH meters: pH indicators; pH testers;

Photocopiers: Digital copiers; Photocopying equipment;

Photogravure printing machines: Gravure presses;

Platemakers: Thermal platemaking equipment; External drum imagesetters; Flat-bed imagesetters; Internal drum imagesetters; Printing platemakers; Photopolymer platemaking equipment; Platemaking equipment;

Printing assemblers: Stitching equipment; Folding equipment;

Printing collators or decollators: Collating equipment;

Printing cutters: Cutting equipment;

Printing guillotines: Power paper cutters;

Printing presses: Sheetfed presses; Digital printing presses; Multicolor presses;

Punches or nail sets or drifts: Drift punches;

Putty knives: Putty knives;

Ratchets: Ratchet sets; Ratchets;

Rulers: Line gauge rulers;

Safety glasses: Safety glasses;

Scanners: Drum scanners; Color separation scanners;

Screwdrivers: Phillips head screwdrivers; Slotted screwdrivers;

Silk screen printing machines: Screen printing presses;

Silk screen vacuum printing frames: Silk screen vacuum printer frames;

Spectrophotometers: Printing spectrophotometers;

Stackers: Printing stackers; Stackers;

Stapler units: Stapling machines;

Tape measures: Measuring tapes;

Thermal book binding machines: Thermal book binders;

Wrapping machinery: Strapping machines;


Technology

Calendar and scheduling software: Job scheduling software;

Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Squeegee;

Data base user interface and query software: Printers Software Inc. Presidio; Printing management system software;

Desktop publishing software: QuarkXPress; Enfocus PitStop Pro; Adobe InDesign; Adobe PageMaker;

Document management software: Adobe LifeCycle Production Print ES3; Adobe Acrobat; Xerox FreeFlow Print Server;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook; Email software;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Electronics for Imaging EFI Monarch; Electronics for Imaging EFI Pace; SAP software;

Financial analysis software: Xerox ProfitQuick;

Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop; Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite; Adobe Illustrator; Graphics software; Image editing software;

Industrial control software: AABACH Graphic Systems DIGRA;

Inventory management software: Inventory tracking software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Project management software: Job tracking software;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word; Word processing software;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Printing Press Operators include:
  • 51-9191.00 Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
  • 51-9032.00 Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • 51-4031.00 Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
  • 51-4035.00 Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
  • 51-4081.00 Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
  • 51-9196.00 Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • 51-9151.00 Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
  • 51-5111.00 Prepress Technicians and Workers
  • 51-5113.00 Print Binding and Finishing Workers
  • 51-4023.00 Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic


No sources of additional information found.

Contact Texas Workforce Commission
Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.