Prepress Technicians and Workers earn $48,690 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $40,930 and $58,580. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
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.
Also known as:
Prepress Technicians and Workers earn $48,690 nationally, below average for bachelor's degree holders. The middle 50% of earners fall between $40,930 and $58,580. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Prepress Technicians and Workers roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
The BLS projects -14.6% employment change for Prepress Technicians and Workers through 2034, a declining trend, below the national average of +5%. About 2,800 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
Declining employment projected.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Prepress Technicians and Workers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $48,690 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 2,180 | $49,850 | +2.4% |
| 2 | Texas | 1,690 | $40,800 | -16.2% |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 1,420 | $46,600 | -4.3% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 1,340 | $45,520 | -6.5% |
| 5 | New York | 1,130 | $48,480 | -0.4% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Prepress Technicians and Workers positions require a postsecondary nondegree award to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graphic Communications | 7,730 | $43,283 | 417 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victor Valley College Victorville, CA | 90 | $1,947 | $36,119 |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA | 88 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| 3 | New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ | 87 | $16,504 | $84,276 |
| 4 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT | 87 | $15,564 | $75,790 |
| 5 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NY | 86 | $2,984 | $63,163 |
| 6 | De Anza College Cupertino, CA | 85 | $6,642 | $56,596 |
Once you've sized up Prepress Technicians and Workers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Prepress Technicians and Workers pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Prepress Technicians and Workers has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 1 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
Scout uses AI and can make mistakes. Verify important numbers on the page.
