73401
Canada Moderate

Printing press operators

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. They are employed by commercial printing companies; newspapers, magazines, and other publishing companies; and establishments in the public and private sectors that have in-house printing departments. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Employment Outlooks

Economic Region Outlooks

Select your region(s)

Choose up to 3 regions to see employment outlooks. This occupation has data for 72 economic regions.

Salary Information

National wage data for this occupation
Entry-level
CA$18.27
/hr
Typical
CA$25.00
/hr
Experienced
CA$35.00
/hr

Average: CA$26.16/hr

85.6% of workers in this occupation receive non-wage benefits

Source: Job Bank Canada. Wages may vary by region and experience.

Examples

Illustrative Examples
  • apprentice pressman/woman
  • assistant pressman/woman
  • first pressman/woman
  • flexographic press operator
  • offset press operator
  • printing press operator
  • rotogravure pressman/woman - printing
All Examples
  • intaglio printing press operator
  • job printer
  • apprentice press operator
  • apprentice press operator - printing
  • apprentice pressman/woman
  • apprentice pressman/woman - printing
  • apprentice printing press operator
  • assistant press operator - printing
  • assistant pressman/woman
  • assistant pressman/woman - printing
  • commercial press operator
  • cylinder press operator - printing
  • cylinder press set-up operator
  • cylinder pressman/woman - printing
  • cylinder printing press set-up operator
  • first press operator - printing
  • first pressman/woman
  • first pressman/woman - printing
  • flat-bed press set-up operator
  • flexographic press adjuster
  • flexographic press operator
  • flexographic press set-up technician - printing
  • flexographic pressman/woman
  • gravure press operator
  • gravure pressman/woman
  • gravure printer - printing
  • gravure printing press operator
  • gravure proof press operator - printing
  • gravure proof puller - printing
  • gravure proof wallpaper puller
  • ink evaluation and press operator - printing
  • ink evaluation pressman/woman - printing
  • intaglio printer - printing
  • letterpress operator - printing
  • letterpress proof press operator - printing
  • letterpress proof puller - printing
  • lithographic offset proofer
  • lithographic offset proofing hand
  • lithographic press operator - printing
  • lithographic pressman/woman - printing
  • lithographic printer
  • newspaper press operator
  • newspaper pressman/woman
  • offset lithographic proof press operator - printing
  • offset machine operator
  • offset press operator
  • offset press operator - printing
  • offset pressman/woman - printing
  • offset printer
  • photoengraved plate proof press operator - printing
  • photoengraved plate proof puller - printing
  • plastic sheet offset press operator
  • platen press operator - printing
  • platen press tender
  • press operator - printing
  • pressman/woman - printing
  • printer
  • printing press assistant operator
  • printing press operator
  • printing technologist
  • proof press operator
  • proof press operator - printing
  • proof pressman/woman - printing
  • proofer - printing
  • proofing hand - printing
  • proofing press operator
  • rotary offset press operator
  • rotary press operator
  • rotogravure press operator - printing
  • rotogravure pressman/woman - printing
  • rotoprinter - printing
  • senior press operator - printing
  • senior pressman/woman - printing
  • sheet metal lithographic press operator
  • sheet metal lithographic pressman/woman
  • thermographic printer
  • wallpaper gravure proof press operator
  • wallpaper rotogravure press operator
  • Web press operator - printing
  • Web pressman/woman - printing

Main Duties

Main Duties
  • This group performs some or all of the following 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.

Requirements

Employment Requirements
  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Completion of a college program in printing technology or A 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.

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Data from Statistics Canada (NOC 2021), ESDC Labour Market Information, and Job Bank Canada