Skip to content
CIP 10.0305 Communications Technologies

Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator, General Production

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

Total graduates

128

2025 · 11 schools

International share

0.8%

1 international students

Bachelor's degrees

21

0.0% international

Overview

Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator, General Production is a specialized field focused on the operation and management of equipment used in the graphic arts and printing industries. This program typically covers a range of topics, including the principles of printing technology, color theory, and the various types of printing processes such as digital, offset, and screen printing.

Students in this program learn how to set up, operate, and maintain printing machinery, ensuring that production runs smoothly and efficiently. They gain hands-on experience with different types of printing equipment, including presses and digital printers, and learn about the pre-press and post-press processes. In addition to technical skills, the curriculum often includes training in quality control, troubleshooting, and problem-solving, which are essential for maintaining high standards in production.

The demand for skilled graphic and printing equipment operators is driven by the ever-evolving nature of the printing industry, which increasingly incorporates digital technologies. Graduates of this program can find employment in various settings, including commercial printing companies, publishing houses, and in-house printing departments for corporations.

Overall, a career as a Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator offers opportunities for creativity and technical expertise, making it a vital role in the production of printed materials, packaging, and promotional products. As the industry continues to innovate, professionals in this field will need to stay updated with the latest technologies and trends to remain competitive.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2003 to 2025, graduates fell 86% and the international share went from 2.1% to 0.8%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
40.6%
Asian
5.5%
Hispanic
29.7%
Black
10.2%
Other
13.3%
Intl.
0.8%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 11 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
— Columbus State Community College Ohio 33 0
— University of Puerto Rico-Carolina Puerto Rico 21 0
— Orange County Community College New York 17 0
— Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Pennsylvania 17 0
— Fulton-Montgomery Community College New York 13 0
— Tarrant County College District Texas 10 1
— Riverside City College California 6 0
— Central Texas College Texas 5 0
— Flint Hills Technical College Kansas 3 0
— Mineral Area College Missouri 2 0
— Fresno City College California 1 0

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Printing Press Operators 144,260 $22.77 $47,360
Data Entry Keyers 127,080 $20.82 $43,310
Prepress Technicians and Workers 23,840 $24.43 $50,800

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2003–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.