Printing Press Operators
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-5112.00
Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.25
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only23 rated tasks · 10 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (43.5%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Adjust digital files to alter print elements, such as fonts, graphics, or color separations.51-5112.00 | 0.0055100.0 |
| Not observed on any surface — 22 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states. | |
Adjust ink fountain flow rates. | —0 |
Change press plates, blankets, or cylinders, as required. | —0 |
Clean ink fountains, plates, or printing unit cylinders when press runs are completed. | —0 |
Clean or oil presses or make minor repairs, using hand tools. | —0 |
Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments. | —0 |
Examine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions. | —0 |
Feed paper through press cylinders and adjust feed and tension controls. | —0 |
Load presses with paper and make necessary adjustments, according to paper size. | —0 |
Monitor automated press operation systems and respond to fault, error, or alert messages. | —0 |
Obtain or mix inks and fill ink fountains. | —0 |
Secure printing plates to printing units and adjust tolerances. | —0 |
Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration. | —0 |
Verify that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job. | —0 |
Maintain time or production records. | —0 |
Download or scan files to be printed, using printing production software. | —0 |
Input production job settings into workstation terminals that control automated printing systems. | —0 |
Control workflow scheduling or job tracking, using computer database software. | —0 |
Direct or monitor work of press crews. | —0 |
Download completed jobs to archive media so that questions can be answered or jobs replicated. | —0 |
Monitor environmental factors, such as humidity and temperature, that may impact equipment performance and make necessary adjustments. | —0 |
Monitor inventory levels on a regular basis, ordering or requesting additional supplies, as necessary. | —0 |
Set up or operate auxiliary equipment, such as cutting, folding, plate-making, drilling, or laminating machines. | —0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Download or scan files to be printed, using printing production software.O*NET Task ID 19422 | 1.0 |
Input production job settings into workstation terminals that control automated printing systems.O*NET Task ID 19425 | 1.0 |
Control workflow scheduling or job tracking, using computer database software.O*NET Task ID 19432 | 1.0 |
Download completed jobs to archive media so that questions can be answered or jobs replicated.O*NET Task ID 19434 | 1.0 |
Maintain time or production records.O*NET Task ID 19435 | 1.0 |
Adjust digital files to alter print elements, such as fonts, graphics, or color separations.O*NET Task ID 19416 | 0.5 |
Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments.O*NET Task ID 19421 | 0.5 |
Monitor automated press operation systems and respond to fault, error, or alert messages.O*NET Task ID 19427 | 0.5 |
Verify that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job.O*NET Task ID 19431 | 0.5 |
Monitor inventory levels on a regular basis, ordering or requesting additional supplies, as necessary.O*NET Task ID 19437 | 0.5 |
Adjust ink fountain flow rates.O*NET Task ID 19417 | 0.0 |
Change press plates, blankets, or cylinders, as required.O*NET Task ID 19418 | 0.0 |
Clean ink fountains, plates, or printing unit cylinders when press runs are completed.O*NET Task ID 19419 | 0.0 |
Clean or oil presses or make minor repairs, using hand tools.O*NET Task ID 19420 | 0.0 |
Examine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions.O*NET Task ID 19423 | 0.0 |
Feed paper through press cylinders and adjust feed and tension controls.O*NET Task ID 19424 | 0.0 |
Load presses with paper and make necessary adjustments, according to paper size.O*NET Task ID 19426 | 0.0 |
Obtain or mix inks and fill ink fountains.O*NET Task ID 19428 | 0.0 |
Secure printing plates to printing units and adjust tolerances.O*NET Task ID 19429 | 0.0 |
Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration.O*NET Task ID 19430 | 0.0 |
Direct or monitor work of press crews.O*NET Task ID 19433 | 0.0 |
Monitor environmental factors, such as humidity and temperature, that may impact equipment performance and make necessary adjustments.O*NET Task ID 19436 | 0.0 |
Set up or operate auxiliary equipment, such as cutting, folding, plate-making, drilling, or laminating machines.O*NET Task ID 19438 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (23)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Adjust ink fountain flow rates. | Core |
| Change press plates, blankets, or cylinders, as required. | Core |
| Clean ink fountains, plates, or printing unit cylinders when press runs are completed. | Core |
| Clean or oil presses or make minor repairs, using hand tools. | Core |
| Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments. | Core |
| Examine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors, or special printing instructions. | Core |
| Feed paper through press cylinders and adjust feed and tension controls. | Core |
| Input production job settings into workstation terminals that control automated printing systems. | Core |
| Load presses with paper and make necessary adjustments, according to paper size. | Core |
| Monitor automated press operation systems and respond to fault, error, or alert messages. | Core |
| Obtain or mix inks and fill ink fountains. | Core |
| Secure printing plates to printing units and adjust tolerances. | Core |
| Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration. | Core |
| Verify that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job. | Core |
| Maintain time or production records. | Core |
| Monitor environmental factors, such as humidity and temperature, that may impact equipment performance and make necessary adjustments. | Core |
| Monitor inventory levels on a regular basis, ordering or requesting additional supplies, as necessary. | Core |
| Adjust digital files to alter print elements, such as fonts, graphics, or color separations. | Supplemental |
| Download or scan files to be printed, using printing production software. | Supplemental |
| Control workflow scheduling or job tracking, using computer database software. | Supplemental |
| Direct or monitor work of press crews. | Supplemental |
| Download completed jobs to archive media so that questions can be answered or jobs replicated. | Supplemental |
| Set up or operate auxiliary equipment, such as cutting, folding, plate-making, drilling, or laminating machines. | Supplemental |
0.96/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Adjust ink fountain flow rates. | E2 structured facilities |
| Change press plates, blankets, or cylinders, as required. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean ink fountains, plates, or printing unit cylinders when press runs are completed. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean or oil presses or make minor repairs, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Feed paper through press cylinders and adjust feed and tension controls. | E2 structured facilities |
| Load presses with paper and make necessary adjustments, according to paper size. | E2 structured facilities |
| Monitor automated press operation systems and respond to fault, error, or alert messages. | E0 none |
| Obtain or mix inks and fill ink fountains. | E2 structured facilities |
| Secure printing plates to printing units and adjust tolerances. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and registration. | E2 structured facilities |
| Verify that paper and ink meet the specifications for a given job. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Monitor environmental factors, such as humidity and temperature, that may impact equipment performance and make necessary adjustments. | E2 structured facilities |
| Set up or operate auxiliary equipment, such as cutting, folding, plate-making, drilling, or laminating machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 144K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 131K
- Change (2025–35)
- -8.7%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $45,780
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89210 | 인쇄 관련 기계 조작원 | This occupation is narrower | confirmed |
| 82123 | 날염기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 7322Printers
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- digital printerESCO 7322.1This occupation is broader
Digital printers work with machines that print directly to the medium, without an intervening plate. Digital printers usually use laser or inkjet technology to print individual pages without lengthy or labour intensive technical steps intervening between the finished digital product and the print.
- flexographic press operatorESCO 7322.2This occupation is broader
Flexographic press operators use flexographic relief plate to print on almost any material. The relief plate is inked and pressed onto the material to be printed.
- gravure press operatorESCO 7322.3This occupation is broader
Gravure press operators work with gravure presses, where the image is engraved directly on a roll. They set up the press and monitor it during the operation, taking care of safety and resolving problems.
- hot foil operatorESCO 7322.4This occupation is broader
Hot foil operators tend machines which apply a metallic foil on other materials using pressure cylinders and heating. They also mix colors, set up the appropriate machinery equipment and monitor printing.
- lithographerESCO 7321.1.2This occupation is broader
Lithographers make and prepare metal plates to be used as the original in various printing processes and media. Plates are usually laser-etched from digital sources with computer-to-plate technology, but can also be made by applying types of emulsions to the printing plate.
- offset printerESCO 7322.5This occupation is broader
Offset printers handle an offset press in order to print an image. The offset press transfers an inked image from the plate to a rubber blanket before to print it onto the printing surface.
- paper embosing press operatorESCO 7322.6This occupation is broader
Paper embossing press operators use a press to raise or recess certain areas of the medium, so as to create relief on the print. Two matching engraved dies are placed around the paper and pressure is applied to change the surface of the material.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| E1301 | Conducteur / Conductrice de machines d'impression | Same scope |
| E1316 | Conducteur / Conductrice de machines à sérigraphier | This occupation is broader |
| H2408 | Imprimeur / Imprimeuse textile | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| E1308 | Technicien / Technicienne des industries graphiques | Related, not a match |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 7622 | Trabajadores de procesos de impresión | Same scopeprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 23412 | Berufe in der Drucktechnik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Same scopeprovisional |
| 23411 | Berufe in der Drucktechnik - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 537 | 印刷・製本従事者 | This occupation is narrower |
| 507 | 印刷・製本設備制御・監視員 | Overlapping, not the same |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources