Printing Press Operators pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,250 or more. The middle half of printing press operators in Columbia earn between $37,230 and $47,840.
- $31K10th
- $37K25th
- $44KMedian
- $48K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,890 | $3,658 | $21.10 |
| Median | $44,250 | $3,688 | $21.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,230 | $3,102 | $17.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,840 | $3,987 | $23.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Printing Press Operators pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Printing press operators in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($42,850) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($47,360). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $45,780.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $43,890 | $44,250 | $31,260 | $59,250 | 340 |
| South Carolina | $42,850 | $40,470 | $29,490 | $59,010 | 2,100 |
| United States | $47,360 | $45,780 | $33,330 | $63,520 | 144,260 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Printing Press Operators salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $43,890, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $36,850 a year, or $3,071 a month and $1,417 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for printing press operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $43,890 buys what about $46,860 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Printing Press Operators salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 2nd of 6 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Greenville pays the most ($44,660).
- Greenville$44,660
- Columbia$43,890
- Spartanburg$43,520
- Charleston$42,080
- Hilton Head Island$41,620
- Myrtle Beach$38,580
Highest-paying cities for printing press operators
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($60,820).
- Washington, DC$60,820
- Staunton, VA$56,800
- Napa, CA$56,790
- Rochester, MN$56,720
- Seattle, WA$56,140
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Printing Press Operators salary in Columbia: questions
How much do printing press operators make an hour in Columbia?
$21.10 an hour on average, and $21.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level printing press operators salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the printing press operators take-home pay in Columbia?
About $36,850 a year ($3,071 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,890.
Do printing press operators earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($47,360).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-5112; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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