← Career directory · Production and manufacturing
Printing Press Operators
Sets up and runs the presses that print packaging, labels, books and signs.
Read the full guide
Press operators set up printing presses, load paper and ink, watch the run for color and quality, and fix problems. Prepress technicians get files ready for printing, and bindery and finishing workers cut, fold, bind and package the finished job. Today's shops use big digital presses and computers as well as traditional offset presses, and much of the work is packaging and labels.
Open the printing press operator guide
The guide checks the courses against your plan, with things to try each year. Free account needed.
High school courses that build toward it
- Welding and Metal Fabrication · Career and Technical
Builds tools and machines, which this job uses.
- Computer Science Principles · Computer Science
Builds computers and electronics, which this job uses.
- Pre-Algebra · Math
Builds math, which this job uses.
- English 10 · English
Builds reading and writing, which this job uses.
- Chemistry · Science
Builds chemistry, which this job uses.
- Physical Education · Health and PE
Builds working with customers and clients, which this job uses.
Ranked by how much the job relies on what each course teaches, from O*NET's knowledge ratings. Your school's own courses and the counselor have the final word.
Printing Press Operators on O*NET OnLine · O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections 2025.