Printing Press Operators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $75,000 or more. The middle half of printing press operators in Chicago earn between $36,750 and $60,120.
- $32K10th
- $37K25th
- $47KMedian
- $60K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,520 | $4,127 | $23.81 |
| Median | $46,580 | $3,882 | $22.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,750 | $3,062 | $17.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,120 | $5,010 | $28.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Printing Press Operators salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $49,520, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $39,659 a year, or $3,305 a month and $1,525 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $40,514 | $3,376 |
| Working in IL | $39,659 | $3,305 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for printing press operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $49,520 buys what about $47,802 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Printing Press Operators salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 7 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$49,520
- Decatur$48,470
- Rockford$47,120
- Peoria$45,640
- Champaign$45,600
- Bloomington$42,970
- Springfield$40,770
Highest-paying cities for printing press operators
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($60,820).
- Washington, DC$60,820
- Staunton, VA$56,800
- Napa, CA$56,790
- Rochester, MN$56,720
- Seattle, WA$56,140
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Printing Press Operators salary in Chicago: questions
How much do printing press operators make an hour in Chicago?
$23.81 an hour on average, and $22.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level printing press operators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the printing press operators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $39,659 a year ($3,305 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,520.
Do printing press operators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($48,046).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-5112; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.86, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.