Printing Press Operators Salary
The median pay for a printing press operators in North Dakota is $37,850/year ($18.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $42,581 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,034/month, about 39.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in North Dakota?
About printing press operators
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Pay for printing press operators in North Dakota runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,034/month, which is 39.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for printing press operatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level printing press operators (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Printing Press Operators salary by metro in North Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $49K | +30% | 50 |
| Fargo | $37K | -2% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track printing press operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a printing press operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 39.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for printing press operators in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new printing press operators typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,842/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is printing press operator a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $38K here vs. $46K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for printing press operators?
North Dakota pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — below the national median.
How much do printing press operators make in North Dakota?
The median is $37,850 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,700, and experienced printing press operators can clear $57,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,643/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 39.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a printing press operators salary go in North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median printing press operators salary is worth about $42,581 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do printing press operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.