Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$52,500
National baseline
Target bonus
$4,500
8.7% of base
Total target cash
$57,000
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$2,50050th$4,50075th$7,500
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
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About this role
Prepress Technicians and Workers is a professional role within the function in the Production job family.
Typical experience: varies by employer. Entry-level roles usually require little or no prior experience; senior roles typically require 5 or more years in the occupation. See the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the specific entry path.
Prepress Technicians and Workers pay by experience level
Entry level$37,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$42,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$50,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$60,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$68,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-14.6%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,800
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Prepress Technicians and Workers salary by industry
Printing and Related Support Activities
14,090 workers
$51,500
Printing and Related Support Activities
14,090 workers
$51,500
Publishing Industries
2,450 workers
$54,500
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers
2,440 workers
$54,000
Paper Manufacturing
1,420 workers
$56,500
Converted Paper Product Manufacturing
1,370 workers
$56,500
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
1,250 workers
$52,000
Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
960 workers
$55,000
Plastics Product Manufacturing
960 workers
$55,000
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services
820 workers
$46,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $41,410 to $48,690.
+17.6% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$37,000
Early career25th percentile
$42,500
Median50th percentile
$50,500
Experienced75th percentile
$60,500
Top earners90th percentile
$68,500
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
Support senior team members with day-to-day operational work
Gather and analyze data using established methods and tools
Prepare reports, presentations, and documentation for internal review
Execute routine tasks accurately and on schedule
Escalate issues and questions to more experienced staff
Contribute to team deliverables under direct supervision
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$52,500
2027$54,500
2028$56,000
2029$58,000
2030$60,000
2031$62,500
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
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StateYears of experienceCurrent salary
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Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
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How much does a Prepress Technicians and Workers make?
The median market pay for a Prepress Technicians and Workers in the United States is about $52,500 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Prepress Technicians and Workers?
Most Prepress Technicians and Workers pay falls between about $42,500 (25th percentile) and $60,500 (75th percentile), with top earners above $68,500.
Is pay for Prepress Technicians and Workers roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $41,410 in 2020 to $48,690 in 2025, a change of +17.6% in nominal dollars.
How this role compares
Prepress Technicians and Workers pays 6% below the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Need Prepress Technicians and Workers pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
