Prepress Technicians & Workers

Also Called: Electronic Prepress Operator (EPP Operator), Plate Maker, Prepress Operator, Prepress Technician

High School Diploma/GED

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$31,330

Entry Salary

Below Average

Job outlook

What Prepress Technicians & Workers do

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 format 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.
Industry Areas:

Advanced Manufacturing • Automotive & Machine Repair • Information Technology • Transportation

Training Program Areas:

Drafting • OCT-Only Advanced Manufacturing • OCT-Only Information Technology • OCT-Only Transportation • Transportation Office Support • Visual Communications

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Time Pressure
  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  • Electronic Mail

Tools

  • Scanners
  • Thermal transfer printer for commercial printing applications
  • Electronic media or data duplicating equipment
  • Flexographic printer
  • Densitometers

Technology

Graphics or photo imaging software
Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
Desktop publishing software
Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
Adobe Systems Adobe PageMaker
Document management software
Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Systems Adobe LifeCycle Enterprise Suite

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Monitoring
  • Speaking
  • Time Management

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
computers and electronics
design
Arts and Humanities
English language
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
manufacture and distribution of products

Education

  • 39% High school diploma or equivalent
  • 23% Associate's degree
  • 21% Some college, no degree

Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Prepress Technicians & Workers Currently Selected

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

 Job Training Match

Aircraft Mechanics & Service Technicians

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

 Job Training Match

Broadcast Technicians

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

 Job Training Match

Film & Video Editors

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

 Job Training Match

Computer Network Architects

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

  • Atlanta - Job Corps

    Atlanta, Georgia

  • Excelsior Springs - Job Corps

    Excelsior Springs, Missouri

ACT & College

  • Academy of Careers and Technology

    Beckley, WV

  • Acadiana Technical College-Lafayette Campus

    Lafayette, LA

Apprenticeships

Earn while you learn. Apprenticeships combines paid training & specialized classes to help workers enter highly skilled occupations. Click here for to locate an apprenticeship near you.

Military

The Military offers exciting career opportunities that align with your interests. Click here to explore military careers and find a recruiter near you.

Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Conventional (Organizer)
    • Realistic (Doer)

Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Cooperation
  • Initiative
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Independence

Values

  • Support
  • Independence
  • Relationships

Abilities

  • Verbal
  • Ideas and Logic

This is what Prepress Technicians & Workers across the country typically make.

$15.06 / hour
$31,330 /year

Entry Level

$21.67 / hour
$45,070 /year

Median Level

$30.50 / hour
$63,440 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Below Average

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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