Prepress Technicians and Workers salary in the U.S.
Prepress Technicians and Workers in the U.S. earn a median of $48,690 a year ($23.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 23,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,080 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $50,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for prepress technicians and workers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| 25th percentile | $40,930 | $19.68 |
| Median | $48,690 | $23.41 |
| 75th percentile | $58,580 | $28.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,080 | $31.77 |
| Average (mean) | $50,800 | $24.43 |
Half of prepress technicians and workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,057.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,028.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,872.69 |
| Weekly | $936.35 |
| Hourly | $23.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Prepress Technicians and Workers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Puerto Rico | $33,030 | 120 |
Best-paying metro areas for prepress technicians and workers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $70,670 | 490 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $66,670 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $59,970 | 200 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $59,540 | 60 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $58,430 | 180 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $58,360 | 290 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $58,200 | 40 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $57,850 | 30 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $56,930 | 190 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $56,850 | 30 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $56,850 | 200 |
| Reno, NV | $56,740 | 30 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $55,680 | 100 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $55,680 | 410 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $55,560 | 130 |
Metro areas with the most prepress technicians and workers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,500 | $49,130 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,290 | $54,590 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,080 | $51,380 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 900 | $44,980 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 800 | $35,810 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 580 | $49,680 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 490 | $70,670 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 410 | $55,680 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 400 | $48,240 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 380 | $47,810 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 380 | $47,270 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 370 | $40,930 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 290 | $58,360 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 280 | $49,770 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 240 | $48,230 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Printing Press Operator | $45,780 | $22.01 |
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $42,290 | $20.33 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,650 | $21.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 | $35.79 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,750 | $25.84 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Machinist | $58,750 | $28.24 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,110 | $19.29 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $45,850 | $22.04 |
| Baker | $37,160 | $17.86 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,890 | $16.78 |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,290 | $20.33 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,330 | $22.27 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-5111. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a prepress technicians and workers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for prepress technicians and workers in the U.S. is $48,690 a year, or $23.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid prepress technicians and workers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of prepress technicians and workers in the U.S. earn at least $66,080 a year. The top 25% earn $58,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for prepress technicians and workers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,810 a year, and a quarter of prepress technicians and workers earn $40,930 or less.
How many prepress technicians and workers work in the U.S.?
About 23,840 prepress technicians and workers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.