Jobs Similar to Printing Press Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to printing press operators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders, Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.
Printing Press Operators: $45,780 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
78% similar · $46,460 (+1%) · High school
- 2Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
78% similar · $48,250 (+5%) · High school
- 3Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
77% similar · $48,990 (+7%) · High school
- 4Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
77% similar · $42,660 (−7%) · High school
- 5Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
77% similar · $38,760 (−15%) · High school
- 6Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
77% similar · $77,320 (+69%) · High school
- 7Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $46,330 (+1%) · High school
- 8Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $44,350 (−3%) · High school
- 9Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $50,140 (+10%) · High school
- 10Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
77% similar · $38,180 (−17%) · High school
- 11Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
77% similar · $53,710 (+17%) · High school
- 12Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
77% similar · $39,530 (−14%) · High school
- 13Print Binding and Finishing Workers
77% similar · $42,290 (−8%) · High school · Same group
- 14Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
76% similar · $50,270 (+10%) · High school
- 15Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
76% similar · $46,350 (+1%) · High school
- 16Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
76% similar · $43,220 (−6%) · High school
- 17Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
76% similar · $46,570 (+2%) · High school
- 18Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
76% similar · $49,030 (+7%) · High school
- 19Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
76% similar · $52,800 (+15%) · High school
- 20Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
76% similar · $47,180 (+3%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than printing press operators.
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators77% similar · $77,320 (+69%)
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers77% similar · $53,710 (+17%)
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic76% similar · $52,800 (+15%)
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic77% similar · $50,140 (+10%)
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders76% similar · $50,270 (+10%)
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders77% similar · $48,990 (+7%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for printing press operators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where printing press operators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Office Machine Operators, Except Computer (80)
- Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators (79)
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (78)
- Etchers and Engravers (77)
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (77)
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (74)
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians (74)
- Motion Picture Projectionists (72)
- Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers (71)
- Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers (70)
Questions about jobs like printing press operators
What jobs are most similar to printing press operators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders (78% similar), Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (78% similar), Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (77% similar), Grinding and Polishing Workers (77% similar) and Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (77% similar).
Which jobs like printing press operators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators ($77,320, +69%; usually a high school diploma), Engine and Other Machine Assemblers ($53,710, +17%; usually a high school diploma) and Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ($52,800, +15%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with printing press operators ($45,780). Without more preparation than printing press operators usually need: Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators, Engine and Other Machine Assemblers and Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.