What Do Prepress Technicians And Workers Do

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

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
$43370
Becoming One
Medium
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

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.

  • Generate prepress proofs in digital or other formats to approximate the appearance of the final printed piece.
  • Proofread and perform quality control of text and images.
  • Enter, position, and alter text size, using computers, to make up and arrange pages so that printed materials can be produced.
  • Perform “preflight” check of required font, graphic, text, and image files to ensure completeness prior to delivery to printer.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Prepress Technicians punch holes in light-sensitive plates and insert pins in holes to prepare plates for contact with positive or negative film. They enter, store, and retrieve information on computer-aided equipment.

A typical day for a Prepress Technician and Worker will also include:

  • Enter, position, and alter text size, using computers, to make up and arrange pages so that printed materials can be produced.
  • Operate presses to print proofs of plates, monitoring printing quality to ensure that it is adequate.
  • Perform close alignment or registration of double and single flats to sensitized plates prior to exposure to produce composite images.
  • Examine photographic images for obvious imperfections prior to plate making.
  • Generate prepress proofs in digital or other formats to approximate the appearance of the final printed piece.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Prepress Technicians also operate and maintain a variety of cameras and equipment, such as process, line, halftone, and color separation cameras, enlargers, electronic scanners, and contact equipment. They may also perform minor deletions, additions, or corrections to completed plates, on or off printing presses, using tusche, printing ink, erasers, and needles.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Prepress Technicians mix solutions such as developing solutions and colored coating solutions. They might also perform close alignment or registration of double and single flats to sensitized plates prior to exposure to produce composite images.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

51% said they were satisfied with their job and 25% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

Salary is below average.

Demand for this career is declining.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$43370 per year

Average hourly wage

$21 per hour

Entry-level Prepress Technicians And Workers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $26,760 to $32,570 per year or $13 to $16 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $63,890 $31
Senior (Top 25%) $51,910 $25
Median $41,410 $20
Junior (Bottom 25%) $32,570 $16
No experience (Bottom 10%) $26,760 $13

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Prepress Technicians And Workers based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Federal Executive Branch $90360 $43.44
Machinery Manufacturing $57380 $27.59
Local Government $56100 $26.97
Other Personal Services $55260 $26.57
Sound Recording Industries $52390 $25.19
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services $51440 $24.73
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $49370 $23.74
Specialized Design Services $48070 $23.11
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services $47600 $22.88
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services $46100 $22.16

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Prepress Technicians And Workers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Prepress Technicians And Workers including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Printing and Related Support Activities 16420 $42770 $20.56
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers 2540 $41360 $19.89
Converted Paper Product Manufacturing 1990 $44700 $21.49
Plastics Product Manufacturing 940 $41720 $20.06
Specialized Design Services 820 $48070 $23.11
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services 670 $46100 $22.16
Employment Services 430 $35920 $17.27
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 260 $47600 $22.88
Federal Executive Branch 210 $90360 $43.44
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods 180 $43770 $21.04

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
26%

40 hours
55%

More than 40 hours
19%

Working schedule

93%

7%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
3%

Every day
84%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
40%

Every day
53%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
11%

Every day
82%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
82%

Once a year
18%

Once a month
0%

Once a week
0%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
21%

Slightly competitive
38%

Moderately competitive
25%

Highly competitive
7%

Extremely competitive
9%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
10%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
90%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
70%

Once a year or more
21%

Once a month or more
5%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
4%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
91%

Once a year or more
7%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
3%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
93%

Once a year or more
7%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Medium
You will need previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an Associate’s degree, and one or two years of on-the-job training. Similar careers include Travel Agents, Agricultural Technicians, Court Reports, and Medical Assistants.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
2%

High School Diploma or equivalent
39%

Post-Secondary Certificate
9%

Some College Courses
21%

Associate’s Degree or similar
23%

Bachelor’s Degree
5%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Graphic Communications

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.

Printing Management

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.

Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design

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.


Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator Production

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.

Platemaker/Imager

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.

Printing Press Operator

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


Computer Typography and Composition Equipment Operator

A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to design and execute page formats, layouts and text composition, and to make typographical selections using computer graphics and other computer-assisted design programs.

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
4%

1 month
2%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
17%

1 to 2 years
22%

2 to 4 years
37%

4 to 6 years
14%

6 to 8 years
3%

8 to 10 years
1%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
11%

1 to 3 months
17%

3 to 6 months
33%

6 months to 1 year
22%

1 to 2 years
10%

2 to 4 years
6%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
90%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
14%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
24%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
14%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
29%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
81%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
38%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
40%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
38%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
52%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
67%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
62%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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