GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Printing Press Operators
Best States to Be a Printing Press Operators
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a printing press operators salary goes furthest in District of Columbia — a $116,630 BLS median worth $99,718 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 219.0).
Which US states are best for a printing press operators after cost of living and tax?
For a printing press operators, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks District of Columbia #1: a $116,630 BLS median becomes $99,718 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 219.0). Idaho ranks last ($39,342, index 86.4). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
District of Columbia ranks #1 of 51 states for a printing press operators. Index 100 = the average state; 219.0 means pay goes 119.0% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedPrinting Press Operators — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $116,630 | $7,039 | 109.9 | $99,718 | 219.0 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $46,470 | $1,604 | 86.9 | $51,608 | 113.3 |
| 3 | Kentucky | $48,000 | $1,789 | 90.2 | $51,255 | 112.6 |
| 4 | South Dakota | $44,930 | — | 88.6 | $50,719 | 111.4 |
| 5 | Missouri | $46,130 | $1,287 | 90.8 | $49,377 | 108.4 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $47,330 | $1,356 | 94.1 | $48,859 | 107.3 |
| 7 | Ohio | $45,760 | $476 | 92.8 | $48,811 | 107.2 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $53,050 | $2,433 | 105.8 | $47,862 | 105.1 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $48,560 | $1,813 | 98.6 | $47,400 | 104.1 |
| 10 | Maine | $47,430 | $1,587 | 97.0 | $47,237 | 103.7 |
| 11 | Indiana | $45,230 | $1,327 | 93.3 | $47,041 | 103.3 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $43,160 | — | 91.9 | $46,979 | 103.2 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $45,630 | $1,397 | 94.3 | $46,893 | 103.0 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $47,010 | $1,443 | 97.6 | $46,701 | 102.6 |
| 15 | Washington | $49,800 | — | 107.0 | $46,536 | 102.2 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $48,410 | — | 104.2 | $46,474 | 102.1 |
| 17 | Vermont | $46,460 | $1,138 | 98.0 | $46,267 | 101.6 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $42,070 | $1,102 | 90.1 | $45,468 | 99.9 |
| 19 | Alaska | $46,460 | — | 102.4 | $45,389 | 99.7 |
| 20 | Michigan | $45,280 | $1,678 | 96.2 | $45,316 | 99.5 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $50,430 | $1,239 | 108.8 | $45,211 | 99.3 |
| 22 | Colorado | $47,860 | $1,446 | 103.1 | $45,040 | 98.9 |
| 23 | Kansas | $41,890 | $1,538 | 90.1 | $44,802 | 98.4 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $41,200 | $1,139 | 89.5 | $44,763 | 98.3 |
| 25 | Iowa | $40,790 | $1,510 | 87.8 | $44,757 | 98.3 |
| 26 | Illinois | $46,260 | $2,149 | 100.0 | $44,130 | 96.9 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $40,760 | — | 92.7 | $43,974 | 96.6 |
| 28 | Texas | $42,550 | — | 97.1 | $43,840 | 96.3 |
| 29 | Oregon | $48,760 | $3,463 | 103.4 | $43,825 | 96.3 |
| 30 | Maryland | $47,840 | $1,940 | 105.0 | $43,732 | 96.1 |
| 31 | Nevada | $43,500 | — | 100.0 | $43,509 | 95.6 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $45,380 | $1,102 | 102.3 | $43,291 | 95.1 |
| 33 | Montana | $42,220 | $1,353 | 94.6 | $43,179 | 94.8 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $38,400 | $884 | 87.0 | $43,145 | 94.8 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $45,670 | $1,130 | 103.6 | $42,988 | 94.4 |
| 36 | Delaware | $44,600 | $1,798 | 99.8 | $42,884 | 94.2 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $37,850 | — | 89.0 | $42,548 | 93.5 |
| 38 | New York | $47,860 | $2,027 | 107.9 | $42,469 | 93.3 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $40,470 | $902 | 93.7 | $42,207 | 92.7 |
| 40 | Arizona | $42,950 | $599 | 100.7 | $42,066 | 92.4 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $37,650 | $755 | 88.2 | $41,828 | 91.9 |
| 42 | Virginia | $44,020 | $1,731 | 101.1 | $41,827 | 91.9 |
| 43 | Georgia | $41,520 | $1,591 | 96.3 | $41,466 | 91.1 |
| 44 | California | $46,110 | $863 | 110.7 | $40,866 | 89.8 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $36,760 | $1,208 | 87.8 | $40,472 | 88.9 |
| 46 | Florida | $41,180 | — | 103.4 | $39,821 | 87.5 |
| 47 | Utah | $41,030 | $1,867 | 98.9 | $39,613 | 87.0 |
| 48 | Alabama | $36,670 | $1,569 | 88.8 | $39,518 | 86.8 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $37,110 | $676 | 92.2 | $39,511 | 86.8 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $45,390 | $1,952 | 110.0 | $39,507 | 86.8 |
| 51 | Idaho | $38,650 | $1,081 | 95.5 | $39,342 | 86.4 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In District of Columbia, a $116,630 salary is worth about $94,715 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $12,538 (≈ top marginal 10.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $104,092 · BEA cost of living 109.9 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $131,657, a $36,943 gain over District of Columbia.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $131,657 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $128,923 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $128,256 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $128,228 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $127,844 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $127,828 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $126,951 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $126,464 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $125,827 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $124,741 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $124,186 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $124,036 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Printing Press Operators — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a printing press operators?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, District of Columbia is the best state for a printing press operators: a BLS median of $116,630 is worth $99,718 after the 2025 state income tax ($7,039) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 109.9), an index of 219.0 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a printing press operators at $116,630, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 219.0). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a printing press operators salary go least far?
- Idaho ranks last of 51 states for a printing press operators: a $38,650 BLS median is worth only $39,342 after tax and cost of living (index 86.4). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a printing press operators is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.