Printing Press Operators
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Job description
These individuals set up and operate web-fed and sheet-fed presses. These machines print on a variety of materials such as paper, plastic, glass, and metal. These people work for:
- Commercial printing companies
- Newspapers
- Journals
- Public and private institutions with their own printing units
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Odours
- Noise
Main tasks
- Determine job specifications from purchase orders (production time, quantity required, etc.) and inform the print shop staff.
- Install and adjust plates and cylinders.
- Make the adjustments required to obtain the desired colour and finish.
- Prepare the press and check the samples.
- Perform quality control and make any necessary adjustments.
- Remove and clean the plates and cylinders.
- Direct staff.
- Ensure that safety regulations are followed.
Advancement and mobility
- Experience leads to supervisory positions.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $17.00
- Median
- $24.33
- Maximum
- $37.00
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Les 2 champs de sélection ci-dessous vous permettent de comparer 2 régions. Les données des régions seront automatiquement mises à jour à la sélection. Par défaut, la province de Québec est sélectionnée pour la première région.
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
Non available
Limited
Good
Very good
Very good
All of Québec
Non available
Limited
Good
Very good
Non available
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
4,500
All of Québec
na
Gender distribution
All of Québec
Not available.
- 13.1% Female
- 86.9% Male
Not available.
- 13.1% Female
- 86.9% Male
Job types
All of Québec
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
$52,800
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 32355% of jobs
-
NAICS 3229% of jobs
-
NAICS 3268% of jobs
-
NAICS 55, 563% of jobs
-
NAICS 3323% of jobs
-
Others22% of jobs
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 32355% of jobs
-
NAICS 3229% of jobs
-
NAICS 3268% of jobs
-
NAICS 55, 563% of jobs
-
NAICS 3323% of jobs
-
Others22% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
Secondary
Sometimes required
- A Class 5 driver's licence is often required.
WAP
This occupation is targeted by Workplace Apprenticeship Programs
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Quality control analysis
- Monitoring operations
- Information processing
- Reading comprehension
- Active listening
- Result evaluation
- Operations and control
- Critical thought
- Coordination
- Troubleshooting
- Equipment maintenance
- Oral expression
- Time management
- Judgment and decision-making
- Solving complex problems
Abilities
- Near vision
- Awareness of issues
- Written comprehension
- Oral comprehension
- Information organization
- Colour perception and distinction
- Visualization
- Digital dexterity
- Manual dexterity
- Verbal skills
- Control accuracy
- Deductive reasoning
- Perception speed
- Hand-arm stability
- Selective attention
- Speech clarity
- Classification
- Inductive reasoning
- Speech recognition
- Distance vision
Knowledge and attributes
- Capacity to work under pressure
- Autonomy
- Capacity to work in a team
- Attention to detail
- Respect standards and regulations
- Sense of observation
- Commitment to quality
- Learning speed
- Timeliness
- Knowledge of mechanics
Interests
- Work manually
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Social
- People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
Official name of the NOC 73401
Printing press operators
Job titles
- Flexographic Press Operators
- Sheet-Fed Offset Press Operators
- Press operator - printing
- Flexographic press adjuster
- Flexographic press set-up technician - printing
- Proofing hand - printing
- Lithographic offset proofing hand
- Apprentice press operator
- Apprentice press operator - printing
- Apprentice printing press operator
- Job printer
- Assistant press operator - printing
- Printing press assistant operator
- Senior press operator - printing
- Proof press operator
- Proof press operator - printing
- Photoengraved plate proof press operator - printing
- Offset lithographic proof press operator - printing
- Printing press operator
- Newspaper press operator
- Platen press operator - printing
- Rotogravure press operator - printing
- Commercial press operator
- Gravure proof press operator - printing
- Cylinder press operator - printing
- First press operator - printing
- Gravure press operator
- Ink evaluation and press operator - printing
- Gravure printing press operator
- Wallpaper gravure proof press operator
- Lithographic press operator - printing
- Sheet metal lithographic press operator
- Offset press operator
- Offset press operator - printing
- Plastic sheet offset press operator
- Rotary press operator
- Web press operator - printing
- Letterpress operator - printing
- Letterpress proof press operator - printing
- Gravure printer - printing
- Offset printer
- Lithographic printer
- Printer
- Thermographic printer
- Offset machine operator
- Wallpaper rotogravure press operator
- Flexographic press operator
- Platen press tender
- Rotary offset press operator
- Cylinder printing press set-up operator
- Cylinder press set-up operator
- Flat-bed press set-up operator
- Printing technologist
- Proofer - printing
- Photoengraved plate proof puller - printing
- Lithographic offset proofer
- Gravure proof puller - printing
- Gravure proof wallpaper puller
- Letterpress proof puller - printing
Skill type
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026
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