How much does a prepress technician and worker make?
The median prepress technician and worker in the United States earns $48,690 per year, about $23.41 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all prepress technicians and workers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-5111.
Prepress technician and worker salary range
Pay for prepress technicians and workers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $35,810 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $66,080. The average (mean) wage of $50,800 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,810 | $17.22 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $40,930 | $19.68 | |
| Median (50th) | $48,690 | $23.41 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $58,580 | $28.16 | |
| 90th percentile | $66,080 | $31.77 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for prepress technicians and workers (SOC 51-5111), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Prepress technician and worker salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Prepress technicians and workers earn the most in District of Columbia at $100,980 a year, and the least in Alabama at $35,020. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $100,980 | 180 |
| Maryland | $60,770 | 480 |
| Massachusetts | $57,250 | 460 |
| New Jersey | $56,840 | 880 |
| Vermont | $55,880 | 40 |
| Nevada | $55,680 | 130 |
| Oregon | $54,360 | 230 |
| California | $53,860 | 2,020 |
| Washington | $53,770 | 380 |
| Arkansas | $52,800 | 160 |
| New York | $52,420 | 1,110 |
| Montana | $51,910 | 40 |
| Colorado | $51,730 | 150 |
| Georgia | $50,280 | 320 |
| North Carolina | $49,760 | 600 |
| Illinois | $49,450 | 680 |
| Minnesota | $49,130 | 2,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,100 | 910 |
| Virginia | $49,100 | 330 |
| Indiana | $49,050 | 670 |
| Connecticut | $48,780 | 430 |
| New Hampshire | $48,580 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $48,410 | 1,160 |
| Ohio | $47,810 | 1,070 |
| Tennessee | $47,790 | 640 |
| Iowa | $47,770 | 210 |
| Maine | $47,350 | 50 |
| Idaho | $47,220 | 50 |
| Michigan | $46,960 | 540 |
| South Dakota | $46,370 | 50 |
| Rhode Island | $45,930 | N/A |
| South Carolina | $45,900 | 200 |
| Missouri | $45,860 | 510 |
| Kentucky | $45,830 | 1,130 |
| Oklahoma | $45,730 | 80 |
| Florida | $45,660 | 840 |
| Kansas | $45,290 | 520 |
| Utah | $44,230 | 210 |
| Nebraska | $40,930 | 400 |
| New Mexico | $39,830 | 30 |
| Arizona | $38,830 | 210 |
| Texas | $38,410 | 2,320 |
| Louisiana | $38,060 | 90 |
| West Virginia | $35,320 | 50 |
| Alabama | $35,020 | 130 |
State median wages for prepress technicians and workers (SOC 51-5111), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for prepress technicians and workers
The BLS projects employment of prepress technicians and workers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 15.3%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 24,700 jobs in 2025 moving toward 20,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 2,100 openings a year for prepress technicians and workers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a prepress technician and worker
The typical entry-level education for prepress technicians and workers is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a prepress technician and worker earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $100,980) and the lowest (Alabama, $35,020) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 23,840 people work as prepress technicians and workers in the United States. At $48,690 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Prepress technician and worker salary FAQ
How much does a prepress technician and worker make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a prepress technician and worker is $23.41. The middle half of prepress technicians and workers earn between $19.68 and $28.16 per hour.
What is the highest prepress technician and worker salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of prepress technicians and workers earn more than $66,080 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a prepress technician and worker make a year?
The median annual salary for a prepress technician and worker is $48,690. The average (mean) wage of $50,800 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a prepress technician and worker a well paid job?
At $48,690 a year, a prepress technician and worker earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 23,840 people work as prepress technicians and workers in the United States.
Which state pays prepress technicians and workers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for prepress technicians and workers at $100,980 a year. Maryland ($60,770) and Massachusetts ($57,250) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a prepress technician and worker a good career?
Employment of prepress technicians and workers is projected to shrink 15.3% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 2,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a prepress technician and worker?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for prepress technicians and workers as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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