How much do your pressmen make?

[gnubler]

I know of a good pressman who's looking for work and wanted to pass on some general marketplace info to him.

Do you know how much your press operators make? Well, how much then?

What type of presses do they run?

How long have they been in the business?

What city are you in?

Do you know any press operators who lost their job and found work in printing elsewhere? Describe.

If you're a manager, what would make you hire or not hire a press operator?

Thanks.

[Joe]

1) Head pressmen for a web press make in the $20 - $25 per hour range here.

2) Web press.

3) 10 - 30 years

4) St Louis metro area I guess it is considered.

5) Many. A good pressman probably can find work if they are willing to move.

6) Plant manager and owners hire/fire pressmen. Prepress has no say so I can't answer that last one.

[andyfest]

Do you know how much your press operators make? Well, how much then?
Head pressmen here (sheetfed folding carton operation) make in the $25 - $30 per hour range. I believe that is fairly typical for large format press operators in Ontario.

What type of presses do they run?
Sheetfed CD74 & CD102 Heidelbergs

How long have they been in the business?
Most of our lead operators have at least 10 years experience. Shift supervisors (former lead pressmen) have 25 - 35 years.

What city are you in?
Southern Ontario, about 2 hours outside the GTA (Greater Toronto area)

Do you know any press operators who lost their job and found work in printing elsewhere? Describe.
A few. Printing operations of any size are few in this area with Transcon (web) & our company being the bigger operations, however, there are many opportunities for a good press operator in the GTA. Most of the operators that have left our company have headed to one of the urban centres in the GTA and have found work easily.

If you're a manager, what would make you hire or not hire a press operator?
Human resources in conjunction with Operations and the shift supervisors are responsible for hiring/firing. Prepress rarely bends anyone's ear around here. If it were up to me, excellent knowledge of colour theory, good colour eye, recognition of the importance of preventive maintenance and record-keeping, and a good mechanical maintenance background would be a must.

[Sabrina The Turd Polisher]

Totally ripping off Andy's formatting...

Do you know how much your press operators make? Well, how much then?
$20 - $30 per hour range. I believe that is fairly typical for S Florida. Ours is making between $20-25

What type of presses do they run?
Sheetfed MO Heidelberg (circa 1986, so it's like a vintage car  :laugh:)
But there's some print shop around here that offered our Prod Mgr a $25/hr job just running a Printmaster

How long have they been in the business?
Our current pressman has been in the biz for about 10 years

What city are you in?
SWFL

Do you know any press operators who lost their job and found work in printing elsewhere? Describe.
Our current pressman moved from Maryland to here. Once again, if they are willing to move, they will find work, it's still out there. S Florida has a lot of printing in the area, both coasts.

If you're a manager, what would make you hire or not hire a press operator?
not a manager

[Skryber]

My husband has been a pressman for 27 years.

At the last shop which was commercial, he made $25.10/hour. Ran a ManRoland 700 5 color. 2/3 perfect, 41" (This was considered underpaid) $28-$30 is going rate. Hammond, IN, union shop

He's in a carton house now and makes $36.65/hour. Runs a ManRoland 900 7 color, 56" (Started on a 6 color same machine. 7 color is a year old). It's one sided printing mainly. They have a sheeter that can print on the crap side while it's sheeting if need be. Alsip, IL, non-union

Location is a big deal.

[Possum]

So is fringe benefits. 

[Skryber]

In that case, he gets 3 weeks of vaca. Been there 7 years (He bought a week). And profit sharing which hasn't been as good the last few years because of the equipment they've been buying, but it's something. He used to get around 120 hours. Now it's around 40.

[Farabomb]

The benefits of working for family are amazing!  :cry:

[gnubler]

Thx for the input. I'll give it another few days before passing it onto my pressman.

[Skryber]

I work about 30 hours a week. I'm the only one doing the job. No vaca. No holiday pay. Sucks hard during the holidays because we are closed so I don't even have the option to work. So last week, I got paid 3 days bc closed thurs and fri.

[Farabomb]

Ugh, that sucks. I got suckered into salary, work 40-45 on average, have vacation but can't take it in blocks longer than 2 days if the shop is open it seems. I'm also on call at times (like tonight), there is no such thing as sick days and get bitched at if I leave to do to the doctors.

[DigiCorn]

No idea what they make, but I'm certain in my area it's above $25/hour for a solid one

[gnubler]

Ugh, that sucks. I got suckered into salary, work 40-45 on average, have vacation but can't take it in blocks longer than 2 days if the shop is open it seems. I'm also on call at times (like tonight), there is no such thing as sick days and get bitched at if I leave to do to the doctors.

LEAVE. This is family? Leave.

Skry is on the right track, I also work about what she works and it's a tolerable sacrifice.

[andyfest]

I work about 30 hours a week. I'm the only one doing the job. No vaca. No holiday pay. Sucks hard during the holidays because we are closed so I don't even have the option to work. So last week, I got paid 3 days bc closed thurs and fri.

Usual work week is 45 - 50 hrs, which can make for long days Mon - Thurs, but I always leave early Friday (1:30 pm), no matter what. Salary so no OT. 5 weeks holidays, but then again I've been here since Jesus was a carpenter. I threw out my company cell 7 years ago and they don't bother calling me after hours at home because I don't answer the phone.