Prepress Technicians and Workers

Prepress Technicians and Workers

Format and proof text and images submitted by designers and clients into finished pages that can be printed. Includes digital and photo typesetting. May produce printing plates.

Salary by State

State Name Employment Annual Salary Hourly Salary
Alabama 350 $31,520 $15.15
Arizona 300 $45,650 $21.95
Arkansas 150 $39,060 $18.78
California 2,570 $47,390 $22.79
Colorado 320 $43,480 $20.91
Connecticut 350 $43,950 $21.13
Delaware 30 $55,580 $26.72
District of Columbia 190 $90,210 $43.37
Florida 1,030 $44,900 $21.59
Georgia 690 $40,200 $19.33
Idaho 70 $37,130 $17.85
Illinois 1,270 $45,560 $21.91
Indiana 830 $34,250 $16.46
Iowa 340 $41,260 $19.84
Kansas 660 $35,030 $16.84
Kentucky 580 $38,060 $18.30
Louisiana 80 $29,890 $14.37
Maine 90 $42,730 $20.55
Maryland 510 $44,670 $21.48
Massachusetts 570 $49,880 $23.98
Michigan 550 $43,460 $20.89
Minnesota 1,020 $47,600 $22.89
Mississippi 80 $44,950 $21.61
Missouri 830 $40,300 $19.38
Montana 50 $29,470 $14.17
Nebraska 270 $39,590 $19.03
Nevada 120 $45,090 $21.68
New Hampshire 80 $46,220 $22.22
New Jersey 1,250 $54,550 $26.23
New Mexico 80 $40,100 $19.28
New York 1,220 $51,360 $24.69
North Carolina 520 $45,550 $21.90
Ohio 1,440 $41,800 $20.09
Oklahoma 200 $34,980 $16.82
Oregon 290 $41,590 $19.99
Pennsylvania 890 $44,960 $21.61
Rhode Island 50 $46,860 $22.53
South Carolina 370 $41,600 $20.00
South Dakota 120 $37,290 $17.93
Tennessee 1,180 $35,830 $17.23
Texas 1,130 $39,650 $19.06
Utah 220 $38,990 $18.75
Vermont 50 $48,990 $23.56
Virginia 680 $43,040 $20.69
Washington 300 $45,350 $21.80
West Virginia 90 $36,070 $17.34
Wisconsin 1,690 $43,520 $20.92

Education

The programs listed below are typically the education paths that can land you this kind of job.

A program that generally prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills in the manufacture and distribution or transmission of graphic communications products. Includes instruction in the prepress, press, and postpress phases of production operations and processes such as offset lithography, flexography, gravure, letterpress, screen printing, foil stamping, digital imaging, and other reproduction methods.

Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Certificate Associate Degree
Associate Degree Bachelor's Degree

A program that prepares individuals to apply technical and managerial knowledge and skills to the processes and procedures of managing printing operations from initial design through finished product distribution. Includes instruction in the principles of graphic communications design and production; quality control; printing operations management; computerization; printing plant management; business finance and marketing; logistics and distribution; personnel supervision and leadership; and professional standards in the graphic communications industry.

Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's Degree

A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the layout, design and typographic arrangement of printed and/or electronic graphic and textual products. Includes instruction in printing and lithographic equipment and operations, computer hardware and software, digital imaging, print preparation, page layout and design, desktop publishing, and applicable principles of graphic design and web page design.

Certificate
Certificate
Certificate Associate Degree

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.

A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to prepare film, digital data, and surfaces to reproduce printed or graphic images. Includes instruction in platemaking, stripping, camerawork, imposition, digital imaging, computer direct-to-plate and direct-to-press, and related processes.

Certificate Associate Degree
Associate Degree

A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to set up, operate, and maintain printing presses.

Bachelor's Degree

Any instructional program in graphic communications not listed above.

Associate Degree
Certificate Associate Degree
Associate Degree
Associate Degree
  • $43,800 per year
    National average salary
    Declining
    Job growth rate
  • Postsecondary nondegree award
    Typical education requirement

Educational Attainment

The following chart shows the highest education level completed by those working as prepress technicians and workers.

  • Less than high school 5%
  • High school graduate 38%
  • College dropout 24%
  • Associate’s degree 15%
  • Bachelor’s degree 16%
  • Master’s degree 2%
  • Doctorate degree 1%

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