51 Series · SOC 51-5111

Prepress Technicians and Workers Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$48,690
Median / year
+2.9%
2024→2025
$66,080
Top 10% earn
-14.6%
Growth '24–'34
23,840
Estimated US jobs

Prepress Technicians and Workers earn a median of $48,690 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $48,690, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $35,810 (10th percentile) to $66,080 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 23,840 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is District of Columbia ($100,980).

51 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Prepress Technicians and Workers earn a median of $48,690, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 30% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #43 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 14.6% by 2034.

$48,690
Median annual wage
Top 70%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#43 of 105
in Production
1.8×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $100,980. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Prepress Technicians and Workers moved from $40,510 in May 2019 to $48,690 in May 2025 (+20.2%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Prepress Technicians and Workers sits -4.3 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Prepress Technicians and Workers (SOC 51-5111) has a national median of $48,690 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $35,810 to $66,080, and the published mean is $50,800. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 23,840 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 46 state or territory areas and 121 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $47,300 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $48,690 in May 2025, a rise of $1,390 (+2.9%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -14.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 2,800 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Postsecondary nondegree award as typical education needed for entry. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Production Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $100,980, which is +107% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $70,670. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 23,840 jobs Median $48,690/yr

Median Salary

$48,690

per year

Median Hourly

$23.41/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$50,800

average

Employment

23,840

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Prepress Technicians and Workers pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$48,690 Bottom 30% higher than 30% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$48,690 · 30th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Prepress Technicians and Workers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Prepress Technicians and Workers sits on the slower-growing side at -14.6% growth and $48,690 median pay. Scatter plot of 23 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000 -20%-15%-10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Miscellaneous Assemb… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.1% · Median annual wage: $44650First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.2% · Median annual wage: $74450Welders, Cutters, So… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.2% · Median annual wage: $53750Packaging and Fillin… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $43220Production Workers, … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.5% · Median annual wage: $40110Electrical, Electron… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.6% · Median annual wage: $45850Bakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.6% · Median annual wage: $37160Laundry and Dry-Clea… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.4% · Median annual wage: $34890Food Batchmakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.9% · Median annual wage: $42290Cutting, Punching, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -12.1% · Median annual wage: $46330Computer Numerically… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.7% · Median annual wage: $50690Helpers--Production … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -8.9% · Median annual wage: $39070Coating, Painting, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.7% · Median annual wage: $48250Molding, Coremaking,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.8% · Median annual wage: $44350Meat, Poultry, and F… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.5% · Median annual wage: $38300Printing Press Opera… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -8.1% · Median annual wage: $45780Chemical Equipment O… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.3% · Median annual wage: $58040Butchers and Meat Cu… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1% · Median annual wage: $40140Water and Wastewater… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.5% · Median annual wage: $60020Multiple Machine Too… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.5% · Median annual wage: $47180Sewing Machine Opera… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.8% · Median annual wage: $36670Paper Goods Machine … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.3% · Median annual wage: $50270Prepress Technicians and Workers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -14.6% · Median annual wage: $48690
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Prepress Technicians and Workers sits on the slower-growing side at -14.6% growth and $48,690 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Miscellaneous Assemb…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.1%, Median annual wage $44650
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $74450
  • Welders, Cutters, So…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.2%, Median annual wage $53750
  • Packaging and Fillin…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $43220
  • Production Workers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.5%, Median annual wage $40110
  • Electrical, Electron…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $45850
  • Bakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $37160
  • Laundry and Dry-Clea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.4%, Median annual wage $34890
  • Food Batchmakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.9%, Median annual wage $42290
  • Cutting, Punching, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -12.1%, Median annual wage $46330
  • Computer Numerically…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.7%, Median annual wage $50690
  • Helpers--Production …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.9%, Median annual wage $39070
  • Coating, Painting, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.7%, Median annual wage $48250
  • Molding, Coremaking,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.8%, Median annual wage $44350
  • Meat, Poultry, and F…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.5%, Median annual wage $38300
  • Printing Press Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.1%, Median annual wage $45780
  • Chemical Equipment O…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $58040
  • Butchers and Meat Cu…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $40140
  • Water and Wastewater…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.5%, Median annual wage $60020
  • Multiple Machine Too…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.5%, Median annual wage $47180
  • Sewing Machine Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.8%, Median annual wage $36670
  • Paper Goods Machine …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.3%, Median annual wage $50270
  • Prepress Technicians and Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -14.6%, Median annual wage $48690

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-14.6%

Declining

Annual Openings

2,800

per year (projected)

Employment Change

-3,800

26,200 (2024) → 22,300 (2034)

Typical Education

Postsecondary nondegree award

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Production Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

3.5/100K

Injury Rate

3.2/100

Danger Index

14.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Prepress Technicians and Workers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Active Listening 3.1
Speaking 3.1
Critical Thinking 3.1
Monitoring 3.1
Time Management 3.1
Reading Comprehension 3.0
Coordination 3.0
Complex Problem Solving 3.0
Operations Monitoring 3.0
Judgment and Decision Making 3.0

Knowledge Areas

Computers and Electronics 4.0
English Language 3.6
Design 3.5
Mathematics 3.4
Production and Processing 3.3
Customer and Personal Service 3.2
Administrative 2.9
Communications and Media 2.7
Administration and Management 2.6
Education and Training 2.5

Key Tasks

  • 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.
  • Perform "preflight" check of required font, graphic, text and image files to ensure completeness prior to delivery to printer.
  • Operate and maintain laser plate-making equipment that converts electronic data to plates without the use of film.
  • Enter, store, and retrieve information on computer-aided equipment.
  • Operate presses to print proofs of plates, monitoring printing quality to ensure that it is adequate.
  • Select proper types of plates according to press run lengths.
  • Examine finished plates to detect flaws, verify conformity with master plates, and measure dot sizes and centers, using light boxes and microscopes.
  • Examine unexposed photographic plates to detect flaws or foreign particles prior to printing.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$35,810
25th$40,930
Median$48,690
75th$58,580
90th$66,080

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$17.22
25th$19.68
Median$23.41
75th$28.16
90th$31.77

Prepress Technicians and Workers pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $38,270National median - 2016: $38,930National median - 2017: $39,910National median - 2018: $40,410National median - 2019: $40,510National median - 2020: $41,410National median - 2021: $42,610National median - 2022: $43,560National median - 2023: $45,070National median - 2024: $47,300National median - 2025: $48,690$48,690
National median annual wage for Prepress Technicians and Workers, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $38,270
2016 $38,930
2017 $39,910
2018 $40,410
2019 $40,510
2020 $41,410
2021 $42,610
2022 $43,560
2023 $45,070
2024 $47,300
2025 $48,690

2015 median

$38,270

2025 median

$48,690

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$8,180 (+20.2%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+3.1%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Prepress Technicians and Workers by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $38,270 First banked release 35,330
May 2016 $38,930 +1.7% 33,340
May 2017 $39,910 +2.5% 31,500
May 2018 $40,410 +1.3% 29,990
May 2019 $40,510 Classification break 30,270
May 2020 $41,410 +2.2% 28,010
May 2021 $42,610 +2.9% 25,840
May 2022 $43,560 +2.2% 25,250
May 2023 $45,070 +3.5% 23,590
May 2024 $47,300 +4.9% 23,070
May 2025 $48,690 +2.9% 23,840

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $38,270 in May 2015 to $48,690 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +3.1% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 30,270 in May 2019 to 23,840 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 46 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 District of Columbia $100,980 +107% above national
2 Maryland $60,770 +25% above national
3 Massachusetts $57,250 +18% above national
4 New Jersey $56,840 +17% above national
5 Vermont $55,880 +15% above national
6 Nevada $55,680 +14% above national
7 Oregon $54,360 +12% above national
8 California $53,860 +11% above national
9 Washington $53,770 +10% above national
10 Arkansas $52,800 +8% above national
11 New York $52,420 +8% above national
12 Montana $51,910 +7% above national
13 Colorado $51,730 +6% above national
14 Georgia $50,280 +3% above national
15 North Carolina $49,760 +2% above national
16 Illinois $49,450 +2% above national
17 Minnesota $49,130 +1% above national
18 Pennsylvania $49,100 +1% above national
19 Virginia $49,100 +1% above national
20 Indiana $49,050 +1% above national
21 Connecticut $48,780 same as national
22 New Hampshire $48,580 same as national
23 Wisconsin $48,410 1% below national
24 Ohio $47,810 2% below national
25 Tennessee $47,790 2% below national
26 Iowa $47,770 2% below national
27 Maine $47,350 3% below national
28 Idaho $47,220 3% below national
29 Michigan $46,960 4% below national
30 South Dakota $46,370 5% below national
31 Rhode Island $45,930 6% below national
32 South Carolina $45,900 6% below national
33 Missouri $45,860 6% below national
34 Kentucky $45,830 6% below national
35 Oklahoma $45,730 6% below national
36 Florida $45,660 6% below national
37 Kansas $45,290 7% below national
38 Utah $44,230 9% below national
39 Nebraska $40,930 16% below national
40 New Mexico $39,830 18% below national
41 Arizona $38,830 20% below national
42 Texas $38,410 21% below national
43 Louisiana $38,060 22% below national
44 West Virginia $35,320 27% below national
45 Alabama $35,020 28% below national
46 Puerto Rico $33,030 32% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 102 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $70,670 +45% above national
2 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $66,670 +37% above national
3 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $59,970 +23% above national
4 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $59,540 +22% above national
5 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $58,430 +20% above national
6 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $58,360 +20% above national
7 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $58,200 +20% above national
8 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $57,850 +19% above national
9 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $56,930 +17% above national
10 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $56,850 +17% above national
11 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $56,850 +17% above national
12 Reno, NV $56,740 +17% above national
13 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $55,680 +14% above national
14 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $55,680 +14% above national
15 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $55,560 +14% above national
16 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $55,370 +14% above national
17 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $54,590 +12% above national
18 Ames, IA $54,460 +12% above national
19 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $54,000 +11% above national
20 Fort Wayne, IN $53,660 +10% above national
21 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $53,560 +10% above national
22 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $53,410 +10% above national
23 Appleton, WI $53,150 +9% above national
24 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $52,000 +7% above national
25 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $51,410 +6% above national
26 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $51,380 +6% above national
27 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $51,180 +5% above national
28 Fresno, CA $50,890 +5% above national
29 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $50,860 +4% above national
30 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $50,750 +4% above national
31 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $50,660 +4% above national
32 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $50,370 +3% above national
33 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $50,340 +3% above national
34 Rochester, NY $50,320 +3% above national
35 Asheville, NC $49,920 +3% above national
36 Richmond, VA $49,850 +2% above national
37 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $49,770 +2% above national
38 Winston-Salem, NC $49,760 +2% above national
39 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $49,680 +2% above national
40 Columbus, OH $49,650 +2% above national
41 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $49,600 +2% above national
42 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $49,590 +2% above national
43 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $49,130 +1% above national
44 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $49,070 +1% above national
45 Raleigh-Cary, NC $49,020 +1% above national
46 Greensboro-High Point, NC $48,900 same as national
47 York-Hanover, PA $48,820 same as national
48 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $48,790 same as national
49 Syracuse, NY $48,730 same as national
50 Pittsburgh, PA $48,700 same as national
51 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $48,680 same as national
52 Manchester-Nashua, NH $48,580 same as national
53 Springfield, MA $48,510 same as national
54 Lawrence, KS $48,490 same as national
55 Madison, WI $48,410 1% below national
56 Lancaster, PA $48,370 1% below national
57 Akron, OH $48,280 1% below national
58 Cleveland, OH $48,270 1% below national
59 Kansas City, MO-KS $48,240 1% below national
60 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $48,230 1% below national
61 Green Bay, WI $48,070 1% below national
62 New Haven, CT $48,040 1% below national
63 Worcester, MA $47,890 2% below national
64 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $47,870 2% below national
65 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $47,810 2% below national
66 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $47,790 2% below national
67 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $47,430 3% below national
68 Lexington-Fayette, KY $47,280 3% below national
69 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $47,270 3% below national
70 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $47,270 3% below national
71 Clarksville, TN-KY $46,900 4% below national
72 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $46,830 4% below national
73 Oklahoma City, OK $46,460 5% below national
74 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $46,080 5% below national
75 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $45,980 6% below national
76 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $45,900 6% below national
77 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $45,770 6% below national
78 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $45,660 6% below national
79 Ann Arbor, MI $45,480 7% below national
80 Mankato, MN $45,430 7% below national
81 St. Louis, MO-IL $45,260 7% below national
82 Toledo, OH $45,100 7% below national
83 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $44,980 8% below national
84 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $44,730 8% below national
85 Knoxville, TN $44,370 9% below national
86 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $44,140 9% below national
87 Jacksonville, FL $43,960 10% below national
88 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $43,950 10% below national
89 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $43,700 10% below national
90 Columbia, SC $43,400 11% below national
91 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $42,630 12% below national
92 Omaha, NE-IA $40,930 16% below national
93 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $40,800 16% below national
94 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $40,550 17% below national
95 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $39,940 18% below national
96 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $38,830 20% below national
97 Ogden, UT $38,630 21% below national
98 Chattanooga, TN-GA $37,310 23% below national
99 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $35,810 26% below national
100 Wichita, KS $35,670 27% below national
101 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $33,880 30% below national
102 College Station-Bryan, TX $30,270 38% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 51 (Production Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 104 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Production Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($48,690 here) and reported employment (23,840 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Prepress Technicians and Workers make?
The median annual salary for Prepress Technicians and Workers is $48,690 ($23.41/hour). The salary range spans from $35,810 at the 10th percentile to $66,080 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Prepress Technicians and Workers pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $48,690, Prepress Technicians and Workers pay is higher than 30% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Prepress Technicians and Workers the most?
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Prepress Technicians and Workers at $100,980/year, which is +107% above the national median.
What education do Prepress Technicians and Workers need?
BLS assigns Prepress Technicians and Workers to Postsecondary nondegree award for typical education needed for entry.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Prepress Technicians and Workers?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Prepress Technicians and Workers in this release. WageDex shows the Production Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Prepress Technicians and Workers a good career?
Employment for Prepress Technicians and Workers is projected to decline 14.6% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 2,800 openings are projected each year.
How does Prepress Technicians and Workers pay vary by state?
Prepress Technicians and Workers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $100,980/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $33,030/year. BLS data covers 46 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Prepress Technicians and Workers?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $70,670/year. BLS reports a median for 102 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Prepress Technicians and Workers pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $58,580/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $100,980/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.