Prepress Technicians and Workers

Production · SOC 51-5111

10.2% AI Exposure — Medium

$48,690

Median Annual Salary

Average

O*NET Outlook

2,700

Proj. Annual Openings

23,840

Employment (OEWS 2025)

90/100

AI Resiliency Score

AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.

AI Exposure Analysis

AI Exposure10.2%

AI Resiliency90/100

Exposure BandMedium

Sector Avg. Exposure0.8%

Top Skills

1.Active Listening

2.Speaking

3.Critical Thinking

4.Monitoring

5.Time Management

O*NET occupation profile

What this work involves

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.

Common titles: Desktop Operator, Electronic Prepress Operator (EPP Operator), Electronic Prepress Technician (EPP Tech), Plate Maker, Plate Mounter, Pre-Press Proofer

Representative Tasks

•Generate prepress proofs in digital or other format to approximate the appearance of the final printed piece.
•Proofread and perform quality control of text and images.
•Enter, position, and alter text size, using computers, to make up and arrange pages so that printed materials can be produced.
•Perform "preflight" check of required font, graphic, text and image files to ensure completeness prior to delivery to printer.
•Operate and maintain laser plate-making equipment that converts electronic data to plates without the use of film.

Detailed Work Activities

•Operate photographic developing or print production equipment.
•Inspected printed materials or other images to verify quality.
•Enter commands, instructions, or specifications into equipment.
•Program equipment to perform production tasks.
•Maintain production or processing equipment.

Tools & Technologies

Adobe Creative Cloud software · hotAdobe Illustrator · hotAdobe InDesign · hotAdobe Photoshop · hotAdobe Acrobat · hotMicrosoft PowerPoint · hotAdobe LifeCycle Enterprise SuiteAdobe PageMakerCorel CorelDraw Graphics SuiteEsko ArtPro

Related Occupations

Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators Printing Press Operators Etchers and Engravers Office Machine Operators, Except Computer Print Binding and Finishing Workers

Employment Projections & AI Exposure

Occupations Shown

0.5%

Avg AI Exposure

Bright Outlook

Sector Comparison

Metric	This Career	Sector Average
AI Exposure	10.2%	0.8%
Outlook	Average	4% Bright
Median Salary	$48,690	N/A
AI Resiliency	90/100	N/A