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?
Salary Distribution by Percentile
Understanding where you might fall in the salary range based on experience and location.
10th
$28,380
25th
$37,840
50th (Median)
$47,300
75th
$56,760
90th
$70,950
Percentile Explained: If you're in the 75th percentile, you earn more than 75% of workers in this occupation. Entry-level positions typically fall in the 10th-25th percentile range, while experienced professionals often reach the 75th-90th percentile.
Typical Benefits Package
Health & Wellness
- ✓Health Insurance
- ✓Dental Insurance
- ✓Vision Insurance
- ✓Mental Health Support
- ✓Wellness Programs
Financial Benefits
- ✓401(k) Retirement Plan
- ✓Employer Match (typically 3-6%)
- ✓Profit Sharing
- ✓Stock Options
- ✓Performance Bonuses
Work-Life Balance
- ✓Paid Time Off (15-25 days)
- ✓Paid Sick Leave
- ✓Flexible Work Arrangements
- ✓Remote Work Options
- ✓Parental Leave
Professional Development
- ✓Tuition Reimbursement
- ✓Professional Certifications
- ✓Conference Attendance
- ✓Training Programs
- ✓Mentorship Opportunities
Note: Benefits vary widely by employer, company size, and location. Large corporations and tech companies often offer more comprehensive packages, while small businesses may offer fewer benefits but more flexibility. Always review the complete compensation package, not just base salary.
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:26,200
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
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
🔥
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
VERY 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 very high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What education is required?
Education Required
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Experience Required
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
Job Training
Training of more than one year