Production
Prepress Technicians and Workers
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.
Also called: Desktop Operator, Electronic Prepress Operator (EPP Operator), Electronic Prepress Technician (EPP Tech), Plate Maker, Plate Mounter, Pre-Press Proofer
- Median pay in Greater Boston
- $58,360
- $28.06/hr
- Jobs in Greater Boston
- 290
- Massachusetts 2024–2034
- −7.8%
- 80 openings a year
- Typical U.S. entry requirement
- Postsecondary nondegree award
Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.
Pay range in Greater Boston
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $47,360 | $47,990 | $58,360 | $71,440 | $88,560 |
10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.
What you’d do
- 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.
- Enter, store, and retrieve information on computer-aided equipment.
AI and this job
AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.
Moderate exposure43 of 100
The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:
- AIOE 57
- Language-model AIOE 48
- GPTs-are-GPTs 24
Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)
AI exposure for this job is moderate, and observed AI use is some. AI tools can help with proofreading, page layout, and file checks, so these tasks may change. Running and maintaining plate-making equipment and judging how proofs will look in print still need people. Projected job numbers in Massachusetts are shrinking.
Likely to change
- Proofreading text and images
- Arranging pages and running preflight checks
Still relies on people
- Judging how proofs will look in print
- Operating and maintaining plate-making equipment
Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.
Next steps from here
Related jobs that build on what you already do.
Semiconductor Processing Technicians
Close inspection of detailed work and following work orders carry over to semiconductor processing, which pays about the same and requires only a high school diploma.
- Pay difference
- +$750 median
- AI exposure
- Lower
- MA growth
- +1.9%
- To get started
- High school diploma or equivalent
Machinists
Careful attention to precision and specifications carries over to machining. It offers higher pay and projected growth, with long-term on-the-job training.
- Pay difference
- +$13,700 median
- AI exposure
- Lower
- MA growth
- +2.2%
- To get started
- High school diploma or equivalent
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Maintaining plate-making equipment builds skills for industrial machinery repair, which has much higher projected growth and higher median pay.
- Pay difference
- +$16,840 median
- AI exposure
- Lower
- MA growth
- +17.1%
- To get started
- High school diploma or equivalent
Training near Boston
College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).
No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.
Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.
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
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers
- Desktop Publishers
Talk to a career coach
A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.
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