SOC 5422 Textiles, printing and other skilled trades

Printers Salary

Median salary £31,367 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £31,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For printers, £33,019 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -15% versus the national average.

About this role

Printers operate printing presses and digital printing equipment to produce books, magazines, newspapers, packaging, labels and commercial print materials. They set up machines, monitor print quality and ensure efficient production runs.

Key responsibilities

Setting up and operating litho, digital, flexo or gravure printing presses
Monitoring print quality including colour, registration and density
Adjusting press settings to maintain consistent output
Managing ink, paper and substrate supplies
Maintaining and cleaning printing equipment

Qualifications and entry routes

Apprenticeship or NVQ Level 2/3 in print production. BPIF (British Printing Industries Federation) training programmes are the industry standard. Machine-specific training from manufacturers is common.

Career outlook

Print volumes are declining in some areas but packaging, labels and specialty printing remain strong. Digital print skills complement traditional press operation.

Key skills

Press operation Colour matching Quality control Machine maintenance Problem-solving

Common industries

Commercial printing
Newspaper printing
Packaging
Label printing
Publishing

Data coverage

SOC code 5422

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 8,000

Median Salary

£31,367

Mean Salary

£31,610

Jobs (000s)

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £23,700Median: £31,367

P10: --P25: £24kMedian: £31kP75: --P90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£23,700

0-2 years

Mid Level

£23,700

3-7 years

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +19.4%Real growth: -13.5%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£31,367

Full-time Only

£33,019

Full-time premium: +£1,652

Printers salary: common questions

How much do printers earn in the UK?

Printers earn a median of £33,019 a year (ONS ASHE 2025).

Is £33,019 a good salary in the UK?

For printers, £33,019 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -15% versus the national average.

What is the starting salary for printers?

Entry-level printers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £23,700, though this varies by employer and region.

Have printers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median printers pay has risen from £26,360 to £33,019 — +25% in cash terms, or -9.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).