Printing Press Operators Salary
The median pay for a printing press operators in Paducah, KY-IL is $48,890/year ($23.51/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers.
So what does $49K get you in Paducah?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Paducah’s Regional Price Parity (86.1). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About printing press operators
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What this looks like in Paducah
Printing press operators pay in Paducah tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,058/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 86.1 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for printing press operators in metros near Paducah, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $48K | , |
| Lexington-Fayette | $47K | , |
| Bowling Green | $45K | , |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $47K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Paducah, KY-IL
Entry-level printing press operators (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Printing Press Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Printing Press Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $117K | +155% | 350 |
| Massachusetts | $53K | +16% | 2,110 |
| New Jersey | $50K | +10% | 4,180 |
| Washington | $50K | +9% | 2,310 |
| Oregon | $49K | +7% | 1,330 |
| Minnesota | $49K | +6% | 4,960 |
| New Hampshire | $48K | +6% | 680 |
| Kentucky | $48K | +5% | 2,470 |
| New York | $48K | +5% | 6,700 |
| Colorado | $48K | +5% | 1,830 |
| Maryland | $48K | +4% | 1,250 |
| Maine | $47K | +4% | 300 |
| Wisconsin | $47K | +3% | 8,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $47K | +3% | 7,150 |
| Arkansas | $46K | +2% | 1,760 |
| Vermont | $46K | +1% | 190 |
| Alaska | $46K | +1% | 170 |
| Illinois | $46K | +1% | 9,550 |
| Missouri | $46K | +1% | 3,460 |
| California | $46K | +1% | 12,320 |
| Ohio | $46K | -0% | 7,500 |
| Connecticut | $46K | -0% | 1,610 |
| North Carolina | $46K | -0% | 3,910 |
| Hawaii | $45K | -1% | 350 |
| Rhode Island | $45K | -1% | 510 |
| Michigan | $45K | -1% | 5,110 |
| Indiana | $45K | -1% | 4,820 |
| South Dakota | $45K | -2% | 460 |
| Delaware | $45K | -3% | 210 |
| Virginia | $44K | -4% | 3,210 |
| Nevada | $44K | -5% | 1,360 |
| Tennessee | $43K | -6% | 3,510 |
| Arizona | $43K | -6% | 2,400 |
| Texas | $43K | -7% | 9,110 |
| Montana | $42K | -8% | 300 |
| Nebraska | $42K | -8% | 2,140 |
| Kansas | $42K | -8% | 2,640 |
| Georgia | $42K | -9% | 4,220 |
| West Virginia | $41K | -10% | 470 |
| Florida | $41K | -10% | 7,060 |
| Utah | $41K | -10% | 1,970 |
| Iowa | $41K | -11% | 2,070 |
| Wyoming | $41K | -11% | 90 |
| South Carolina | $40K | -12% | 2,100 |
| Idaho | $39K | -16% | 610 |
| Mississippi | $38K | -16% | 670 |
| North Dakota | $38K | -17% | 270 |
| Louisiana | $38K | -18% | 870 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -19% | 250 |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -20% | 1,140 |
| Alabama | $37K | -20% | 2,160 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track printing press operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Paducah numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a printing press operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Paducah?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 32.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,058/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Paducah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new printing press operators typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,869/month. At HUD’s $1,058/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Paducah?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Paducah compare to the national average for printing press operators?
Paducah pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 86.1), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do printing press operators make in Paducah, KY-IL?
The median is $48,890 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,150, and experienced printing press operators can clear $58,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Paducah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,281/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,058/month, which eats 32.2% 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 Paducah?
Paducah has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median printing press operators salary is worth about $56,783 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.