Prepress Technician and Worker Salary
Prepress Technicians and Workers earn a median $48,690 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$48,690
$23.41 per hour
Range
$35,810 – $66,080
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
23,840
across the U.S.
Prepress Technician and Worker take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$41,302
per year · effective tax rate 15.2%
$3,442Monthly
$1,721Twice a month
$1,589Every 2 weeks
$19.86Hourly
- 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 | Washington, DC | $70,670 | $55,399 | $50,879 | 490 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $54,590 | $43,692 | $38,816 | 1,290 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $49,680 | $39,784 | $38,403 | 580 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $49,130 | $39,839 | $38,006 | 2,500 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $44,980 | $38,321 | $37,173 | 900 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $51,380 | $41,664 | $36,687 | 1,080 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $35,810 | $30,953 | $31,384 | 800 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Washington, DC — $70,670
- New York, NY — $54,590
- Los Angeles, CA — $51,380
- Chicago, IL — $49,680
- Minneapolis, MN — $49,130
- Dallas, TX — $44,980
- Houston, TX — $35,810
Prepress Technician and Worker salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $100,980 | $74,255 | $85,820 – $116,630 | 180 |
| Maryland | $60,770 | $48,486 | $37,970 – $75,980 | 480 |
| Massachusetts | $57,250 | $45,538 | $44,890 – $83,620 | 460 |
| New Jersey | $56,840 | $46,258 | $45,150 – $77,860 | 880 |
| Vermont | $55,880 | $45,641 | $49,690 – $58,610 | 40 |
| Nevada | $55,680 | $46,919 | $33,280 – $66,210 | 130 |
| Oregon | $54,360 | $41,931 | $41,940 – $71,390 | 230 |
| California | $53,860 | $43,475 | $38,870 – $76,420 | 2,020 |
| Washington | $53,770 | $45,384 | $39,050 – $69,880 | 380 |
| Arkansas | $52,800 | $42,758 | $34,140 – $73,290 | 160 |
| New York | $52,420 | $42,066 | $37,310 – $71,270 | 1,110 |
| Montana | $51,910 | $42,207 | $38,340 – $54,460 | 40 |
| Colorado | $51,730 | $42,177 | $40,760 – $71,040 | 150 |
| Georgia | $50,280 | $40,593 | $37,480 – $65,580 | 320 |
| North Carolina | $49,760 | $40,685 | $39,260 – $63,060 | 600 |
| Illinois | $49,450 | $39,610 | $38,290 – $77,000 | 680 |
| Minnesota | $49,130 | $39,839 | $40,430 – $65,570 | 2,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,100 | $40,124 | $36,080 – $61,190 | 910 |
| Virginia | $49,100 | $39,623 | $32,230 – $62,960 | 330 |
| Indiana | $49,050 | $40,174 | $36,670 – $63,290 | 670 |
| Connecticut | $48,780 | $40,105 | $35,900 – $84,910 | 430 |
| New Hampshire | $48,580 | $41,214 | $34,180 – $59,770 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $48,410 | $39,728 | $38,020 – $66,090 | 1,160 |
| Ohio | $47,810 | $40,063 | $33,920 – $62,030 | 1,070 |
| Tennessee | $47,790 | $40,579 | $33,790 – $60,160 | 640 |
| Iowa | $47,770 | $39,400 | $31,210 – $63,280 | 210 |
| Maine | $47,350 | $38,211 | $43,190 – $61,320 | 50 |
| Idaho | $47,220 | $38,727 | $31,000 – $55,250 | 50 |
| Michigan | $46,960 | $38,167 | $38,340 – $61,650 | 540 |
| South Dakota | $46,370 | $39,438 | $29,760 – $64,590 | 50 |
| Rhode Island | $45,930 | $37,979 | $42,710 – $86,050 | — |
| South Carolina | $45,900 | $37,464 | $30,060 – $59,050 | 200 |
| Missouri | $45,860 | $37,810 | $29,210 – $62,620 | 510 |
| Kentucky | $45,830 | $37,518 | $37,240 – $58,250 | 1,130 |
| Oklahoma | $45,730 | $37,412 | $22,400 – $57,250 | 80 |
| Florida | $45,660 | $38,868 | $34,000 – $59,440 | 840 |
| Kansas | $45,290 | $36,843 | $34,490 – $64,630 | 520 |
| Utah | $44,230 | $36,694 | $35,720 – $62,620 | 210 |
| Nebraska | $40,930 | $34,084 | $40,930 – $58,830 | 400 |
| New Mexico | $39,830 | $33,438 | $30,520 – $65,540 | 30 |
| Arizona | $38,830 | $32,618 | $35,460 – $65,900 | 210 |
| Texas | $38,410 | $33,042 | $30,590 – $57,210 | 2,320 |
| Louisiana | $38,060 | $32,006 | $29,450 – $61,620 | 90 |
| West Virginia | $35,320 | $29,617 | $28,380 – $53,400 | 50 |
| Alabama | $35,020 | $28,833 | $28,400 – $46,060 | 130 |
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, Washington, DC 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.