Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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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.
Table of contents
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.
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What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
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
Average hourly wage
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 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Graphic Communications
Printing Management
Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design
Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator Production
Platemaker/Imager
Printing Press Operator
Computer Typography and Composition Equipment Operator
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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