Wages — Here's How We Can Catch Up and Recruit the Next Generation

The printing industry—especially the flexographic (flexo) sector—remains essential to packaging, labeling, and branding across every consumer product. Yet despite its importance, the industry is struggling with a major challenge: wage stagnation and a shrinking talent pipeline.

As wages lag behind other manufacturing sectors and fewer young workers are entering the field, the industry faces serious obstacles to future growth.

The Wage Gap Across Printing Roles

Here’s a snapshot of current salaries across common roles in the printing industry compared to national averages:

Role	Median Annual Wage (2022-2023)	Notes
Printing Press Operator	$41,860	Top 10% earn up to $50,160 (BLS)
Sales Representative	$59,490	Lower than national average B2B sales roles (often $70K+)
Purchasing Agent	$63,470	Lower than similar roles in tech/logistics
Production Manager	$74,800	Less than manufacturing managers in automotive/tech
Operations Manager	$83,080	Compared to $100K+ in other manufacturing sectors

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Data USA, Salary.com

These figures show a troubling reality: even experienced, skilled roles in the printing industry are underpaid relative to similar positions in other sectors. This wage gap is one of the biggest hurdles to attracting and retaining talent.

Why Wage Stagnation Is a Major Threat

The effects of stagnant wages ripple across the industry in multiple ways:

Young workers aren’t choosing print careers. Many entry-level positions pay less than warehouse or retail jobs—and without clear paths to grow, they simply aren’t attractive.
Experienced professionals are leaving. Salespeople, operations managers, and production leaders are being recruited into higher-paying roles in packaging, logistics, and tech.
The industry’s image is outdated. Students and educators often aren’t even aware of the opportunities printing offers—or assume it's a dying industry.

Industry Revenue and Margin Pressure

The industry has also seen a decline in revenue growth:

Printing industry revenue has dropped at a -1.1% CAGR over the past five years.
2024 revenue is estimated at $90.3 billion (source: IBISWorld).
Digital transformation, rising input costs, and reduced demand for traditional print materials are cutting into profit margins.

This puts pressure on business owners, making it even harder to offer competitive wages or invest in recruitment.

How We Can Attract New Talent and Rebuild the Workforce

To revitalize the industry and bring in the next generation, the printing community must come together with a multi-faceted approach:

1. Get Into High Schools — Early and Often

Most students graduate without ever learning about careers in printing. Here’s how we fix that:

Partner with local high schools and trade programs.
Offer plant tours, job shadowing, and Print Career Days to expose students to real jobs in the industry.
Speak to classes, connect with guidance counselors, and support career fairs.
Provide paid internships and scholarships for students interested in manufacturing or design.

2. Modernize and Digitize

Invest in digital printing technologies, automation, and workflow tools. These innovations can:

Increase efficiency
Reduce overhead costs
Open new service offerings (e.g., digital packaging, variable data printing)

With stronger margins, companies will have more flexibility to raise wages and invest in people.

3. Raise Pay and Show Career Progression

To stay competitive, companies need to:

Benchmark salaries against broader manufacturing—not just other printers.
Create clear career ladders from entry-level to leadership roles.
Promote growth paths: operator → lead → supervisor → manager.

When people see a future, they stay longer and contribute more.

4. Rebrand the Printing Industry

Young people want jobs that feel modern, creative, and tech-forward. Let’s change the narrative around print:

Highlight innovations in sustainable packaging, automation, and design.
Use social media, video storytelling, and behind-the-scenes content to promote the cool factor of print.
Partner with influencers in the skilled trades and manufacturing education spaces.

5. Collaborate Across the Industry

Printers, suppliers, recruiters, and industry groups need to work together to:

Advocate for state-level training grants and tax incentives
Share workforce development best practices
Build a centralized job board or resource hub for the flexo and print industry
Support diversity and inclusion in recruiting efforts

Final Thoughts

The printing industry has an incredible opportunity to reshape its future—but it starts with people. If we want to grow, we need to:

Pay competitively
Promote the industry to young talent
Modernize operations
Create meaningful career paths