5422 Printers

In short

• ONS unit group 5422, in minor group 542 (Printing trades) and major group 5 (Skilled trades occupations).
• Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): Transitional tables only: Table 1a, Table 2aa.
• Going rate as the tables print it:
  • Table 1a, Going rate (SW – options A and D): £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)
  • Table 2aa, Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU): £26,200 (£13.44 per hour)

What the ONS says

Description

Printers set up and operate various small offset printing presses and digital printing processes.

Typical entry routes

There are no formal academic requirements although some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically received on-the-job. Traineeships and apprenticeships in Machine Printing are available at NVQ/SVQ levels 2 and 3.

Tasks

• positions form or plate on machine, checks alignments and sets press
• mixes and loads inks and solvents, loads paper and regulates during print run
• prints and examines proof copies and adjusts press as necessary
• starts or directs start of printing run and monitors machine to ensure that printing proceeds smoothly
• pours colour into machine or directly on to screen and positions screen over item
• operates squeegee by hand or machine to press colour through screen
• dips wooden pattern block into colour tray and lays different colours on top of, and adjacent to, others to form the required pattern
• produces, transfers and outputs digital print images
• maintains, adjusts, repairs and cleans machine
• keeps production records

Related job titles

• Digital printer
• Lithographic printer
• Machine minder (printing)
• Print technician
• Screen printer
• Wallpaper printer

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the tables below, with the tables’ own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 1a: Additional eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates for Skilled Worker applicants granted permission under the rules in place before 22 July 2025

SOC 2020 occupation code

5422 Printers

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Digital printers
• Flexographic printers
• Lithographic printers
• Screen printers
• Printers not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options A and D)

£33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option B)

Not applicable

80% of going rate (SW – option C)

Not applicable

70% of going rate (SW – option E)

£33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Table 2aa: Additional eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates for Skilled Worker applicants granted permission under the rules in place before 22 July 2025

SOC 2020 occupation code

5422 Printers

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

5422

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Digital printers
• Flexographic printers
• Lithographic printers
• Screen printers
• Printers not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU)

£26,200 (£13.44 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option G)

Not applicable

80% of going rate (SW – option H)

Not applicable

70% of going rate (SW – option J, GTR)

£25,000 (£12.82 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Other unit groups in minor group 542

• 5421 Pre-press technicians
• 5423 Print finishing and binding workers

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

All 412 occupation codes

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