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Printing Press Operator

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AVG. SALARY

$38,520

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EDUCATION

High school preferred +

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JOB OUTLOOK

Decreasing

Interviews

Insider Info

"I feel very fortunate because I learned the business of printing literally at my husband's side," says Algerita Carter.

"Don't get me wrong! There's a lot to be said for formal training and there are a lot of good courses available. But there's nothing like hands-on training. Books can only teach you so much. It's immersing yourself in the real-life situation -- the real-life stresses of deadlines and, of course, demanding customers. I'm not sure school can teach you patience."

Carter's business has kept pace with the rapid technological changes in the industry. Customizing business cards, pencils and paper pads for some large accounts now provide the bulk of their business.

"We're essentially brokers for these large clients. Sometimes it's pretty lucrative. The bottom line is that it keeps the mortgage paid while our secondary work, printing invitations, gives us the added cash flow for an occasional vacation.

"I remember designing and printing a business card after talking at length with a client. When I very proudly showed him the card, he seemed to take a 180-degree turn and wanted something completely different! It took a lot of tact to negotiate with him, giving him what he needed without wasting a lot of my own time and resources. I didn't learn these people skills overnight."

Don LeClaire also learned the industry as an apprentice. "I kind of fell into this line of work, helping my uncle after school in his small commercial shop. Nowadays kids can get some really good training at the college level. It's a good way to go, especially since equipment is getting more and more sophisticated. You need a higher level of education to stay on top of it, not to mention...competing for work."

LeClaire's longtime job working letterpress was phased out a few years ago. He now works for a local copier franchise, doing just about anything that relates to printing. "I'm good at troubleshooting, so I'm usually the one to call when a machine conks out.

"I'll definitely tell my grandkids that it isn't cushy work. We stand a lot of the time and with all the noise, it can get pretty stressful. A retired buddy of mine who worked many years as a switchman for the phone company was in shock after a recent tour of the place where he used to work. He thought it was a mausoleum -- it was so quiet. He worked so many years in the din of those clacking switches. Now that it's practically all digital, you could almost hear a pin drop!"