How To Become A Press Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a press assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Also referred to as a press operator, a press assistant is responsible for supervising and operating the press machine that prints newspapers, books, magazines, and other types of publications.

A typical day of a press assistant revolves around running the press machine, refilling ink and paper, adjusting the press settings according to the required standards. They may also be responsible for monitoring the inventory of printing supplies, identifying problems in printing, and keeping their work area clean and organized. A press assistant typically works on a regular 8-hour schedule and stays on their feet for most of the day.

If this career sounds like a good fit for you, the minimum educational requirement you need to have is a high school diploma or GED. Many employers also prefer individuals with a certification in print technology, so obtaining one can increase your chances of job placement. Nevertheless, employers typically provide on-the-job training once hired.

Press assistants earn an annual income between $20,000 to $35,000. Most job opportunities are in industries like media, retail, and technology.

ScorePress AssistantUS Average

Salary

2.6

Avg. Salary $33,732

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.6

Growth Rate -5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 7.22%

Black or African American 10.43%

Hispanic or Latino 15.61%

Unknown 3.49%

White 62.75%

Gender

female 23.03%

male 76.97%

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

Newest jobs for Press Assistant in Columbus, OH

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Key steps to become a press assistant

Explore press assistant education requirements

Most common press assistant degrees

Bachelor's

38.3 %

High School Diploma

32.9 %

Associate

14.4 %

Start to develop specific press assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Hand Tools	12.10%
Preventative Maintenance	12.08%
Safety Policies	8.71%
Press Operators	8.38%
Math	5.18%

Complete relevant press assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New press assistants 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 a press assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real press assistant resumes.

Research press assistant duties and responsibilities

Manage shop, warehouse & inventories, supervise employees, schedule production, maintain and run equipment when need.
Perform varied tasks in an ISO atmosphere.
Work with both uv and water base inks.
Employ root cause analysis to troubleshoot equipment and process issues.

Prepare your press assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your press assistant 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 a press assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Press Assistant Resume templates

Build a professional Press Assistant 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 Press Assistant resume.

Apply for press assistant jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a press assistant 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 press assistants rate their job?

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Press Assistant reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019

Cons

Heavy lifting a very physical job