Printers | Job Outlook

Printers set up and operate letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, newspaper, instant, digital and offset printing presses.

Either extensive experience or an apprenticeship in print manufacturing, printing or printing and graphic art is needed to work as a Printer.

Tasks

setting, adjusting and monitoring substrate-feed mechanisms, delivery mechanisms, inking systems and other printing machine functions
mixing ink and solvents to standard, and regulating paper and ink supply during print runs
monitoring, evaluating and determining press operations manually and by computer to check print quality standards against proofs and detect malfunctions
producing a variety of printed products using relief, lithographic, flexographic and gravure printing presses, and in-line finishing systems
preparing plates, blankets and impression cylinders on small offset lithographic printing presses
loading paper into feeding mechanisms
monitoring machine operations and quality of printing
undertaking maintenance, adjustment, repair and cleaning of machines
producing and managing digital print images, and transferring and outputting images
may set up and operate paper and bookbinding guillotines

More about Printers

All Printers

$1,132 Weekly Pay

Weekly Pay

Earnings are median for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, before tax, including amounts salary sacrificed. These figures are a guide only and should not be used to determine a wage rate.
Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report.
Stable Future Growth
Future Growth
The Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business estimates the likely change in number of workers over the next 5 years. Future growth is the likely percentage change, compared to all other occupations. Possible ratings are

Very strong growth

Strong growth

Moderate growth

Stable

Decline
Unavailable Unemployment

Unemployment

A lower unemployment rate shows people who work in this job are less likely to be out of work than people who work in other jobs.

12,600 workers Employment Size

Employment Size

Employment size is the number of workers who do this as their main job.
Sources: ABS Labour Force Survey (custom trend) for 4-digit occupations (e.g., ANZSCO ID 1112) and 2016 Census for 6-digit occupations (e.g., ANZSCO ID 111211). As the figures come from different sources, the 6-digit figures may not sum to match the 4-digit totals.
Medium skill Skill level rating
Skill Levels
Skill level ratings are based on the range and complexity of job tasks. In general, the higher the skill level, the more formal education and training, previous experience or on-the-job training needed to be good at the job. Entry level jobs often need no prior training or experience. Possible ratings are

Very high skill – 5+ years training or experience, or a Bachelor Degree or higher

High skill – 3+ years training or experience, or an Associate Degree or Diploma

Medium skill – 3+ years training or experience, or a Certificate III/IV

Lower skill – 1+ year of experience, or a Certificate II/III

Entry level – High School or Certificate I
87% Full-Time Full-Time Share

Full-Time Share

Full-time workers usually work 35 hours or more a week (in all their jobs combined).
41 hours Average full-time

Average full-time hours

Average full-time hours is the actual hours worked in this job per week, by people who work full-time hours in all of their jobs combined.
46 years Average age

Average age

This is the average age of all workers in this job. See the Prospects page for the full age profile.
13% female Gender Share

The number of people working as Printers (in their main job) fell over 5 years:
from 16,000 in 2014 to 12,600 in 2019.

Caution: The Australian jobs market is changing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These estimates do not take account of the impact of COVID-19. They may not reflect the current jobs market and should be used and interpreted with extreme caution.

Size: This is a medium sized occupation.
Location: Many Printers work in Victoria.
Industries: Most work in Manufacturing; Information Media and Telecommunications; and Wholesale Trade.
Earnings: Full-time workers on an adult wage earn around $1,132 per week (below the average of $1,460). Earnings tend to be lower when starting out and higher as experience grows.
Full-time: Most work full-time (87%, much higher than the average of 66%).
Hours: Full-time workers spend around 41 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
Age: The average age is 46 years (compared to the average of 40 years). Many workers are 45 years or older (53%).
Gender: 13% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).

Employment Outlook

Number of Workers

Caution: The 2019 employment projections do not take account of any impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and are therefore no longer reflective of current labour market conditions. As such, they should be used, and interpreted, with extreme caution. Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, National Skills Commission trend data to May 2019 and projections to 2024.
Year	Number of Workers
2009	15700
2010	19300
2011	15500
2012	12700
2013	15400
2014	16000
2015	14400
2016	12200
2017	12700
2018	12200
2019	12600
2024	12300

Weekly Earnings

Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), May 2018, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Earnings	Printers	All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings	1132	1460

Main Industries

Main Employing Industries (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
Main Employing Industries	Industry (% share)
Manufacturing	80.9
Information Media and Telecommunications	8.0
Wholesale Trade	2.6
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services	2.2
Other Industries	6.3

States and Territories

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
State	Printers	All Jobs Average
NSW	32.7	31.6
VIC	34.0	25.6
QLD	15.5	20.0
SA	8.0	7.0
WA	7.3	10.8
TAS	1.4	2.0
NT	0.4	1.0
ACT	0.7	1.9

Age Profile

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket	Printers	All Jobs Average	All Jobs Average
15-19	1.0	-5.0	5.0
20-24	4.7	-9.3	9.3
25-34	15.7	-22.9	22.9
35-44	25.2	-22.0	22.0
45-54	29.8	-21.6	21.6
55-59	11.6	-9.0	9.0
60-64	7.8	-6.0	6.0
65 and Over	4.2	-4.2	4.2

Education Level

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification	Printers	All Jobs Average	All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate	1.7	-10.1	10.1
Bachelor degree	6.2	-21.8	21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma	7.1	-11.6	11.6
Certificate III/IV	55.7	-21.1	21.1
Year 12	15.7	-18.1	18.1
Year 11	3.6	-4.8	4.8
Year 10 and below	10.0	-12.5	12.5

Either extensive experience or an apprenticeship in print manufacturing, printing or printing and graphic art is needed to work as a Printer.

Thinking about study or training?

Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need.

Compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes on the My Skills website.
You might be interested in Printing & Graphic Arts VET training pathways on the AAPathways website.

Or check out related courses on Job Outlook.

The course listings on this page are provided by Good Education Group.

Employers look for Printers who are hardworking, reliable and work well in a team.

80 skills and knowledge criteria available.

Filter Skills & Knowledge

Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

Mechanical

49% Skill level

Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Production and processing

43% Skill level

Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
English language

41% Skill level

English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Customer and personal service

34% Skill level

Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
Chemistry

33% Skill level

Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

Operation monitoring

50% Skill level

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical thinking

48% Skill level

Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Monitoring

45% Skill level

Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
Reading comprehension

45% Skill level

Reading work related information.
Operation and control

45% Skill level

Controlling equipment or systems.

Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities.

Near vision

55% Skill level

See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
Finger dexterity

52% Skill level

Put together small parts with your fingers.
Control precision

50% Skill level

Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Visualization

48% Skill level

Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Colour discrimination

46% Skill level

Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.

Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

Handling and moving objects

73% Skill level

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
Controlling equipment or machines

72% Skill level

Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
Working with mechanical equipment

59% Skill level

Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
Monitoring people, processes and things

58% Skill level

Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
Doing physically active work

58% Skill level

Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-5112.00 - Printing Press Operators.

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

32 work environment criteria available.

Filter Work Environment

Demands

The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.

Exposure to contaminants

97% Important

Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
Wear common protective or safety equipment

96% Important

Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
Being exact or accurate

94% Important

Be very exact or highly accurate.
Indoors, heat controlled

90% Important

Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.
Spend time standing

90% Important

Spend time standing at work.

Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.

Support

57% Important

Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
Achievement

48% Important

Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
Independence

43% Important

Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
Recognition

43% Important

Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Working conditions

43% Important

Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
Relationships

33% Important

Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

Practical

90% Important

Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
Administrative

71% Important

Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
Enterprising

29% Important

Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
Analytical

24% Important

Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
Creative

24% Important

Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Helping

19% Important

Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

Tasks

More about Printers

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All Printers

Employment Outlook

Number of Workers

Weekly Earnings

Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)

Main Industries

Main Employing Industries (% Share)

States and Territories

NSW

VIC

QLD

SA

WA

TAS

NT

ACT

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

Age Profile

Age Profile (% Share)

Education Level

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

80 skills and knowledge criteria available.

Filter Skills & Knowledge

Knowledge

Mechanical

Production and processing

English language

Customer and personal service

Chemistry

Skills

Operation monitoring

Critical thinking

Monitoring

Reading comprehension

Operation and control

Abilities

Near vision

Finger dexterity

Control precision

Visualization

Colour discrimination

Activities

Handling and moving objects

Controlling equipment or machines

Working with mechanical equipment

Monitoring people, processes and things

Doing physically active work

32 work environment criteria available.

Filter Work Environment

Demands

Exposure to contaminants

Wear common protective or safety equipment

Being exact or accurate

Indoors, heat controlled

Spend time standing

Values

Support

Achievement

Independence

Recognition

Working conditions

Relationships

Interests

Practical

Administrative

Enterprising

Analytical

Creative

Helping