# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/prepress-technicians-and-workers
- SOC code: 51-5111.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $48,690 (10th percentile $35,810, 90th percentile $66,080)
- Projected growth: Decline, -15.3%
- Openings a year: 2,100
- Typical entry education: Postsecondary certificate
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CRA)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 67 |
| Investigative (I) | 16 |
| Artistic (A) | 35 |
| Social (S) | 11 |
| Enterprising (E) | 6 |
| Conventional (C) | 79 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 90/100)
- Getting Information (importance 83/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 79/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 79/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 79/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 75/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 69/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 66/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 63/100)
- Scheduling Work and Activities (importance 62/100)

## Skills

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

## Knowledge

Computers and Electronics, English Language, Design, Mathematics, Production and Processing, Customer and Personal Service, Administrative, Communications and Media, Administration and Management, Education and Training

## Also called

Ad Compositor, Ad Setter, Advertisement Compositor, Advertising Layout Worker, Bankman, Blueprint Blocker, Blueprint Cutter, Blueprint Developer, Blueprint Duplicator, Blueprint Machine Operator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Graphic Communications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1003) (CIP 1003, 390 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Graphic Communications | $52,902 | $79,432 | $17,000 |
| [Loyola Marymount University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/loyola-marymount-university-1550) | Graphic Communications | not reported | $76,522 | not reported |
| [Ringling College of Art and Design](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ringling-college-of-art-and-design-2233) | Graphic Communications | $47,561 | $75,213 | $27,000 |
| [Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brigham-young-university-provo-byu-utah-302) | Graphic Communications | $36,018 | $73,941 | not reported |
| [University of Minnesota-Duluth](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-minnesota-duluth-2960) | Graphic Communications | $45,291 | $61,062 | $23,250 |
| [University of Wisconsin-Stout](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-wisconsin-stout-3091) | Graphic Communications | $42,668 | $59,621 | $22,639 |
| [Arizona State University Campus Immersion](https://www.collegesref.com/college/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion-101) | Graphic Communications | $39,793 | $57,618 | $18,500 |
| [Illinois State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/illinois-state-university-1264) | Graphic Communications | $48,805 | $55,723 | $17,500 |

## Related careers

- [Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/photographic-process-workers-and-processing-machine-operators): $40,610 median pay
- [Printing Press Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/printing-press-operators): $45,780 median pay
- [Etchers and Engravers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/etchers-and-engravers): $43,310 median pay
- [Office Machine Operators, Except Computer](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/office-machine-operators-except-computer): $40,960 median pay
- [Print Binding and Finishing Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/print-binding-and-finishing-workers): $42,290 median pay
- [Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/patternmakers-metal-and-plastic): $58,000 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.