How To Become An Offset Press Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is an offset press operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

An offset press operator is a person who performs the hands-on task of operating large machinery in factory production lines, mostly involving paper packaging. The job position will require knowledge of machine-related computer programming and small-scale press capabilities.

The responsibilities of this position will include operating small-scale presses, carrying out maintenance of the press(s), set up, organize and prioritize the machines and workflow and adjust settings on the press to match the specification set.

ScoreOffset Press OperatorUS Average

Salary

3.4

Avg. Salary $43,637

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.6

Growth Rate -5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.55%

Asian 6.71%

Black or African American 10.53%

Hispanic or Latino 14.67%

Unknown 3.78%

White 63.76%

Gender

female 15.21%

male 84.79%

Age - 50

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50

Stress Level

7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.4

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.3

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an offset press operator

Explore offset press operator education requirements

Most common offset press operator degrees

High School Diploma

43.5 %

Associate

29.0 %

Bachelor's

13.0 %

Start to develop specific offset press operator skills

Skills	Percentages
Hand Tools	14.39%
Troubleshoot	10.95%
General Maintenance	9.09%
Offset Printing	8.88%
Water Balance	8.86%

Complete relevant offset press operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New offset press operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an offset press operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real offset press operator resumes.

Research offset press operator duties and responsibilities

Manage shop, warehouse & inventories, supervise employees, schedule production, maintain and run equipment when need.
Operate a 64"7 color, UV capable Planeta press, and a 51"7 color KBA Rapida.
Perform all functions and duties pertaining to the operation of multi color printing presses.
Monitor and troubleshoot problems during the head sheet run that affect press runability or quality.

Prepare your offset press operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your offset press operator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an offset press operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Offset Press Operator Resume templates

Build a professional Offset Press Operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Offset Press Operator resume.

Apply for offset press operator jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an offset press operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do offset press operators rate their job?