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.
Prepress Technicians and Workers
SOC: 51-5111 O*NET: 51-5111.00
Median Salary
$47,300
per year
Job Growth
📉 -14.6%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
2.8
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Job Zone 3
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.
What does a Prepress Technicians and Workers do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$34,270
10th percentile
Early Career
$39,000
25th percentile
Median
$47,300
50th percentile
Experienced
$57,530
75th percentile
Top Earners
$65,530
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$34,270
25th
$39,000
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$47,300
Mean: $49,130
75th
$57,530
90th
$65,530
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $31,260 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $39,000 and $57,530
- •Salary spread is 39.2% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 23,070 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:26,200
Top Industries
Manufacturing77.1%
Printing and Related Support Activities65.4%
Printing and Related Support Activities65.4%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-14.6%
Annual Openings:2,800
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)26,200
Current
2034 (Projected)22,300
-14.6%
-3,800
Employment Change
-14.6%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Decline
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Prepress Technicians and Workers professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 46 locations
California
2,180 jobs$49,8500.81x
Texas
1,690 jobs$40,8000.82x
Wisconsin
1,420 jobs$46,6003.25x
Minnesota
1,340 jobs$45,5203.08x
New York
1,130 jobs$48,4800.79x
Florida
1,070 jobs$46,0500.73x
Illinois
1,060 jobs$55,4901.17x
Ohio
1,040 jobs$46,8801.26x
Kentucky
890 jobs$44,8503.00x
Indiana
790 jobs$47,4501.67x
Kansas
750 jobs$45,9003.52x
Pennsylvania
730 jobs$46,9900.81x
Tennessee
690 jobs$46,5601.40x
Michigan
600 jobs$48,2500.91x
Massachusetts
550 jobs$57,9301.01x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Active Listening
100%
#2
Monitoring
94%
#3
Critical Thinking
86%
#4
Speaking
80%
#5
Time Management
74%
#6
Complex Problem Solving
66%
#7
Judgment and Decision Making
60%
#8
Coordination
54%
#9
Operations Monitoring
46%
#10
Reading Comprehension
40%
Skills Overview
Active Listening
advanced5.0
100%
Monitoring
advanced4.7
94%
Critical Thinking
intermediate4.3
86%
Speaking
intermediate4.0
80%
Time Management
intermediate3.7
74%
Complex Problem Solving
advanced3.3
66%
Judgment and Decision Making
intermediate3.0
60%
Coordination
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Active Listening
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Monitoring
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance86%
abilities
4.3/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Time Management
intermediateImportance74%
skills
3.7/5.0
Complex Problem Solving
advancedImportance66%
abilities
3.3/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
intermediateImportance60%
abilities
3.0/5.0
Coordination
basicImportance54%
skills
2.7/5.0
Operations Monitoring
basicImportance46%
skills
2.3/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Stonemasons100%
5 shared skills
Air Traffic Controllers82%
5 shared skills
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film82%
5 shared skills
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels82%
5 shared skills
Dental Laboratory Technicians82%
5 shared skills
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic82%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Speaking
Learn on the Job:
- →Coordination
- →Complex Problem Solving
- →Judgment and Decision Making
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Critical Thinking
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Active Listening
- ★Speaking
- ★Critical Thinking
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Prepress Technicians and Workers
Technology Intensity
Very High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires expert digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Advanced software proficiencySystem architecture understandingAutomation and scriptingEmerging technology adaptationTechnical problem-solving
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Adobe InDesign
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Acrobat
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Creative Cloud software
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Illustrator
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Photoshop
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Acrobat
Microsoft Outlook
Adobe Creative Cloud software
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
OCCASIONAL
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
15
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (9)Documentation & Record-Keeping (2)Operations & Execution (3)Analysis & Evaluation (1)
1
Enter, store, and retrieve information on computer-aided equipment.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Enter, position, and alter text size, using computers, to make up and arrange pages so that printed materials can be produced.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Maintain, adjust, and clean equipment, and perform minor repairs.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping94% perform96%
4
Operate and maintain laser plate-making equipment that converts electronic data to plates without the use of film.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping91% perform94%
5
Examine photographic images for obvious imperfections prior to plate making.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Operate presses to print proofs of plates, monitoring printing quality to ensure that it is adequate.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution85% perform90%
7
Examine unexposed photographic plates to detect flaws or foreign particles prior to printing.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Examine finished plates to detect flaws, verify conformity with master plates, and measure dot sizes and centers, using light boxes and microscopes.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Select proper types of plates according to press run lengths.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Analyze originals to evaluate color density, gradation highlights, middle tones, and shadows, using densitometers and knowledge of light and color.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Analysis & Evaluation73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •47% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Prepress Technicians and Workers
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Prepress Technicians and Workers professionals typically have a CRA Holland code and highly value support
CConventional
RRealistic
AArtistic
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Prepress Technicians and Workers
Attention to Detail
CriticalAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.85
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.35
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.12
Initiative
Very ImportantInitiative
Importance Level4.08
Stress Tolerance
Very ImportantStress Tolerance
Importance Level4.07
Independence
Very ImportantIndependence
Importance Level4.02
Complete Work Styles Profile
Attention to Detail
4.8
Dependability
4.3
Cooperation
4.1
Initiative
4.1
Stress Tolerance
4.1
Independence
4.0
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.0
Persistence
3.9
Achievement/Effort
3.8
Self-Control
3.8
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Typical duration: Varies
Preparation Level
Job Zone 3
Medium Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training:
Training of more than one year
💼 Experience Requirement
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Associate degree programs
- • Apprenticeships (1-2 years)
- • Vocational training with related experience
3
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Associate degree programsApprenticeships (1-2 years)Vocational training with related experience
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