Career comparison
Office Machine Operator vs. Printing Press Operator
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Printing press operators earn more at the median ($45,780 vs. $40,960), while office machine operators usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Office machine operators run copiers, printers and binding machines for offices and print centers. Printing press operators run printing presses that produce packaging, labels, books and marketing materials.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Office Machine Operator | Printing Press Operator | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $40,960 ($19.69/hr) | $45,780 ($22.01/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $31,750 – $57,960 | $33,330 – $63,520 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -14.9% (a projected decline) | -8.7% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 2,100 | 12,100 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | A few weeks on the job | A few months to years on the job |
| Key credential | Equipment training | PIA training |
| Work setting | Operators work in copy centers, print rooms and office reprographics departments.. | Operators work in print plants and packaging facilities.. |
What each job does
Office Machine Operator
- Run copiers and printers
- Bind and finish documents
- Cut and fold paper
- Scan documents
- Fill print orders
Printing Press Operator
- Set up presses
- Mount plates
- Mix and load ink
- Adjust color and registration
- Monitor runs
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work and indoor work. They sit in different fields, business & office and mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing, but share transferable skills such as accuracy and attention to detail.
Which should you choose?
Choose office machine operator if…
- I like machines
- I’m accurate
- I like hands-on work
Choose printing press operator if…
- I like machines
- I have a good eye for color
- I solve problems
Still torn? Take the Office Machine Operator fit quiz and the Printing Press Operator fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, office machine operator or printing press operator?
Printing Press Operators earn more at the median: $45,780 versus $40,960 for office machine operators, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Office Machine Operators typically train faster (A few weeks on the job) than printing press operators (A few months to years on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects printing press operators to grow -8.7% from 2025–35, compared with -14.9% for office machine operators.