Prepress Technician and Worker Salary
Prepress Technicians and Workers earn a median $48,690 a year nationally. Production Occupations
What prepress technicians and workers do
Format and proof text and images submitted by designers and clients into finished pages that can be printed. May produce printing plates.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -15.3% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 2,100
- Self-employed
- 5%
Employment of prepress technicians and workers is projected to shrink 15.3% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 2,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Prepress Technician and Worker take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,663
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,019
- Medicare (1.45%)$706
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$41,302
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,810 | $17.22 | $30,953 |
| 25th percentile | $40,930 | $19.68 | $35,067 |
| Median (50th) | $48,690 | $23.41 | $41,302 |
| 75th percentile | $58,580 | $28.16 | $49,249 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,080 | $31.77 | $55,275 |
Best cities for prepress technicians and workers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $49,130 | $39,839 | $38,006 | 2,500 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Minneapolis, MN — $49,130
Prepress Technician and Worker salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $100,980 | +2.2% | $74,255 | $85,820 – $116,630 | 180 |
| Maryland | $60,770 | +19.9% | $48,486 | $37,970 – $75,980 | 480 |
| Massachusetts | $57,250 | −1.2% | $45,538 | $44,890 – $83,620 | 460 |
| New Jersey | $56,840 | −4.0% | $46,258 | $45,150 – $77,860 | 880 |
| Vermont | $55,880 | +13.0% | $45,641 | $49,690 – $58,610 | 40 |
| Nevada | $55,680 | −1.3% | $46,919 | $33,280 – $66,210 | 130 |
| Oregon | $54,360 | −4.9% | $41,931 | $41,940 – $71,390 | 230 |
| California | $53,860 | +8.0% | $43,475 | $38,870 – $76,420 | 2,020 |
| Washington | $53,770 | +5.8% | $45,384 | $39,050 – $69,880 | 380 |
| Arkansas | $52,800 | +21.3% | $42,758 | $34,140 – $73,290 | 160 |
| New York | $52,420 | +8.1% | $42,066 | $37,310 – $71,270 | 1,110 |
| Montana | $51,910 | +7.7% | $42,207 | $38,340 – $54,460 | 40 |
| Colorado | $51,730 | +1.3% | $42,177 | $40,760 – $71,040 | 150 |
| Georgia | $50,280 | +3.4% | $40,593 | $37,480 – $65,580 | 320 |
| North Carolina | $49,760 | +1.1% | $40,685 | $39,260 – $63,060 | 600 |
| Illinois | $49,450 | −10.9% | $39,610 | $38,290 – $77,000 | 680 |
| Minnesota | $49,130 | +7.9% | $39,839 | $40,430 – $65,570 | 2,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,100 | +4.5% | $40,124 | $36,080 – $61,190 | 910 |
| Virginia | $49,100 | +2.9% | $39,623 | $32,230 – $62,960 | 330 |
| Indiana | $49,050 | +3.4% | $40,174 | $36,670 – $63,290 | 670 |
| Connecticut | $48,780 | +9.0% | $40,105 | $35,900 – $84,910 | 430 |
| New Hampshire | $48,580 | +3.9% | $41,214 | $34,180 – $59,770 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $48,410 | +3.9% | $39,728 | $38,020 – $66,090 | 1,160 |
| Ohio | $47,810 | +2.0% | $40,063 | $33,920 – $62,030 | 1,070 |
| Tennessee | $47,790 | +2.6% | $40,579 | $33,790 – $60,160 | 640 |
| Iowa | $47,770 | +4.2% | $39,400 | $31,210 – $63,280 | 210 |
| Maine | $47,350 | +2.2% | $38,211 | $43,190 – $61,320 | 50 |
| Idaho | $47,220 | +2.1% | $38,727 | $31,000 – $55,250 | 50 |
| Michigan | $46,960 | −2.7% | $38,167 | $38,340 – $61,650 | 540 |
| South Dakota | $46,370 | +23.5% | $39,438 | $29,760 – $64,590 | 50 |
| Rhode Island | $45,930 | +4.1% | $37,979 | $42,710 – $86,050 | — |
| South Carolina | $45,900 | +2.5% | $37,464 | $30,060 – $59,050 | 200 |
| Missouri | $45,860 | −4.6% | $37,810 | $29,210 – $62,620 | 510 |
| Kentucky | $45,830 | +2.2% | $37,518 | $37,240 – $58,250 | 1,130 |
| Oklahoma | $45,730 | +106.3% | $37,412 | $22,400 – $57,250 | 80 |
| Florida | $45,660 | −0.8% | $38,868 | $34,000 – $59,440 | 840 |
| Kansas | $45,290 | −1.3% | $36,843 | $34,490 – $64,630 | 520 |
| Utah | $44,230 | +17.7% | $36,694 | $35,720 – $62,620 | 210 |
| Nebraska | $40,930 | +3.3% | $34,084 | $40,930 – $58,830 | 400 |
| New Mexico | $39,830 | — | $33,438 | $30,520 – $65,540 | 30 |
| Arizona | $38,830 | −18.8% | $32,618 | $35,460 – $65,900 | 210 |
| Texas | $38,410 | −5.9% | $33,042 | $30,590 – $57,210 | 2,320 |
| Louisiana | $38,060 | +0.1% | $32,006 | $29,450 – $61,620 | 90 |
| West Virginia | $35,320 | +2.9% | $29,617 | $28,380 – $53,400 | 50 |
| Alabama | $35,020 | +0.1% | $28,833 | $28,400 – $46,060 | 130 |
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a prepress technician and worker make?
The national median salary for prepress technicians and workers is $48,690 a year ($23.41 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,810 and the top 10% earn over $66,080. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays prepress technicians and workers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $100,980. After taxes and local prices, Minneapolis, MN offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many prepress technicians and workers are there in the U.S.?
About 23,840 people work as prepress technicians and workers nationwide.