73401 – Printing press operators
Lead statement
Printing press operators set up and operate sheet and web-fed presses to print text, illustrations and designs on a wide variety of materials such as paper, plastic, glass, leather and metal. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main duties
- Review job orders to determine job specifications such as production time, colour sequence and quantities required, and advise press crew of these specifications
- Mount plates or cylinders and make necessary adjustments
- Fill ink fountains and take measurements, make adjustments and determine settings to control colour and viscosity
- Set up press and check samples for ink coverage, alignment and registration
- Monitor regular press runs for quality and consistency using computer control console and make adjustments as required
- Remove and clean plates and cylinders at end of press run
- Direct activities of press crew and ensure that safety procedures are adhered to.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a college program in printing technology ora combination of on-the-job training and specialized high school, college or industry courses is usually required.
- Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Québec.
Example job titles
apprentice press operator · apprentice pressman/woman · apprentice pressman/woman - printing · apprentice press operator - printing · apprentice printing press operator · printing press assistant operator · assistant press operator - printing · assistant pressman/woman · assistant pressman/woman - printing · letterpress operator - printing · commercial press operator · cylinder pressman/woman - printing · cylinder press operator - printing · cylinder printing press set-up operator · first press operator - printing · first pressman/woman - printing · first pressman/woman · flexographic press operator · flexographic pressman/woman · gravure proof press operator - printing · ink evaluation pressman/woman - printing · ink evaluation and press operator - printing · job printer · letterpress proof press operator - printing · lithographic pressman/woman - printing · lithographic press operator - printing · sheet metal lithographic press operator · sheet metal lithographic pressman/woman · gravure proof puller - printing · printer · letterpress proof puller - printing · newspaper press operator · newspaper pressman/woman · offset lithographic proof press operator - printing · offset press operator · offset press operator - printing · offset pressman/woman - printing · offset printer · plastic sheet offset press operator · platen press operator - printing
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $18.27 | $25.00 | $35.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $17.25 | $20.00 | $25.50 |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 | $21.50 | $30.00 |
| Quebec | $20.60 | $26.65 | $37.00 |
| Ontario | $19.00 | $25.00 | $35.00 |
| Manitoba | $18.00 | $24.00 | $31.50 |
| Alberta | $19.86 | $27.56 | $34.51 |
| British Columbia | $19.00 | $28.00 | $40.00 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.