Printing Press Operators vs CNC Tool Operators
Median pay is about $5k higher for CNC Tool Operators. Both usually start with the same education: high school.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Printing Press Operators | CNC Tool Operators |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $45,780 | $50,690, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $37,390 | $44,930, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $55,740 | $61,760, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | -8.7% Declining, higher | -9.4% Declining |
| Openings a year | 12,100 | 12,500 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | High school | High school |
| Difficulty modeled | 1.8 / 5 | 1.8 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Moderate | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 21st pct | 30th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: monitoring, reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, critical thinking, active learning.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.