by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 19 U.S. colleges awarded 252 degrees and certificates in Graphic & Printing Equipment Operator, General Production. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 42% of graduates. College Factual ranks 11 schools in its 2027 Best Graphic & Printing Equipment Operator, General Production Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $28,094 one year after completing, rising to $44,537 after four years.
A degree in Graphic & Printing Equipment Operator, General Production explores Graphic And Printing Equipment Operator, General Production. A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Plan, Prepare, And Execute A Variety Of Commercial And Industrial Graphic Communications Jobs. Includes Instruction In The Operation And Maintenance Of Mechanical, Electronic, And Digital Graphic, Printing, And Finishing Equipment; And Related Processes.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., graphic & printing equipment operator, general production is a popular field of study, with 252 degrees awarded annually. 19 colleges award graphic & printing equipment operator, general production degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 69.
By level, the 252 awards include 54 certificates, 107 associate degrees, 21 bachelor’s degrees and 70 master’s degrees.
Women earned 66% of graphic & printing equipment operator, general production degrees and certificates in the latest year (166 of 252). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (114) and Hispanic or Latino (65), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 11 schools in its 2027 Best Graphic & Printing Equipment Operator, General Production Schools ranking, including 6 for associate degrees. It also ranks graphic & printing equipment operator, general production schools within 3 states. In all, 19 colleges offer graphic & printing equipment operator, general production programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Graphic & Printing Equipment Operator, General Production Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common graphic & printing equipment operator, general production credential is the associate degree: 107 of the 252 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to graphic & printing equipment operator, general production call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Monitoring, and for knowledge of English Language, Administrative and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Written Comprehension and Finger Dexterity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a graphic & printing equipment operator, general production degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 54 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 107 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 21 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 70 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to graphic & printing equipment operator, general production, at 50.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 50.9% |
| Some college courses | 23.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 15.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 2.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Graphic & Printing Equipment Operator, General Production, with an average median salary of $30,516; the strongest outlook belongs to Printing Press Operators, at 12.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Computer Typesetter, Electrotyper, Lithographing Machine Operator and Print Operator.
The occupation related to graphic & printing equipment operator, general production with the most projected jobs is Prepress Technicians and Workers, at 442,588.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | 442,588 | 12.2% |
| Data Entry Keyers | 418,460 | 10.1% |
| Printing Press Operators | 78,762 | 12.3% |
Graphic & Printing Equipment Operator, General Production graduates earn a median $28,094 one year after completing their program, $44,537 after four years and $47,560 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,094 |
| 4 years | $44,537 |
| 5 years | $47,560 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to graphic & printing equipment operator, general production is Data Entry Keyers, with a median salary of $33,881.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Data Entry Keyers | $33,881 |
| Printing Press Operators | $31,814 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $25,852 |
Graphic & Printing Equipment Operator, General Production has 8 similar majors in the Communications Technology/Support field, which together award 8,906 degrees a year; the largest are Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects (6,864), Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design (1,335) and Graphic Communications, General (458). Browse all Communications Technology/Support majors or the full list of college majors.
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