How to hire a prepress digital technician

How to hire a prepress digital technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step prepress digital technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a prepress digital technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new prepress digital technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your prepress digital technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a prepress digital technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a prepress digital technician to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a prepress digital technician that fits the bill.

   This list presents prepress digital technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Prepress Digital Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Prepress Digital Technician		$12-27
   Scanner	A scanner is responsible for producing digital copies of files and documents for company records and operational needs. Scanners often work within an office industry, assisting office personnel with paperwork by scanning documents through paper machines and equipment... Show more	$11-17
   Technician	Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with... Show more	$11-27

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Mac
   • Adobe Illustrator
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Adobe Indesign
   • Adobe Creative Suite
   • Quark
   • Color Correction
   • Color Proofs
   • PDF
   • Press Checks
   • Print Production
   • Pitstop
   • Troubleshoot
   • Platemaking

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Administer and troubleshoot all computer systems, applications and networks.
   • Scan images on a desktop scanner and manipulate images using Photoshop.
   • Operate desktop publishing hardware and software to design and typeset forms, newsletters and other graphics.
   • Edit type and images according to mark-up copy usign photoshop, quark, illustrator and Indesign.
   • Update and troubleshoot prepress software to continue productivity.
   • Assemble and output advertisement using macintosh and windows workstations.

   More prepress digital technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the prepress digital technician job description is a good way to get more applicants. A prepress digital technician salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a prepress digital technician in South Carolina may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level prepress digital technician. Additionally, a prepress digital technician with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average prepress digital technician salary

   $39,859yearly

   $19.16 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level prepress digital technician salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average prepress digital technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Pennsylvania	$43,959	$21
   2	Virginia	$43,158	$21
   3	Michigan	$41,111	$20
   4	Washington	$40,319	$19
   5	Colorado	$39,925	$19
   6	North Carolina	$39,164	$19
   7	Wisconsin	$38,812	$19
   8	Tennessee	$38,336	$18
   9	Iowa	$38,064	$18
   10	Florida	$35,964	$17
   11	Minnesota	$30,335	$15

   Average prepress digital technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	WestRock	$44,762	$21.52	1
   2	Ricoh	$43,302	$20.82
   3	Randstad North America, Inc.	$38,776	$18.64
   4	Global Printing Inc	$36,182	$17.40
   5	Award Staffing	$35,428	$17.03
   6	R.M. Schulte & Associates	$35,087	$16.87

4. Writing a prepress digital technician job description

   A prepress digital technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a prepress digital technician job description:

   Prepress digital technician job description example

   Do you want to work for a company where your co-workers are co-owners? Smartpress is a fast-growing online printing service, disrupting the traditional printing industry one innovation at a time. Our customers love us (seriously, google Smartpress reviews) and we love them right back, providing an easy online experience, high-quality printed products and world-class customer service. Not to mention our commitment to eco-friendly practices and sustainable materials ("smart" is in our name, after all).
   
   We are looking for an enthusiastic Prepress Technician to join our Smartpress team. You'll be part of a talented group that collaborates to deliver world class products to our customers.
   
   The Prepress team is growing by leaps and bounds. It is composed of many different centers of excellence. Ranging from prep, storefront portals, variable direct mail, layout, graphic design, and color. All combined as one team influencing our business and providing state-of-the-art solutions for our customers.
   
   If you're looking for a dynamic high velocity day, and thrive being part of a nimble team with continual opportunities to learn and grow this may be the perfect fit for you.
   A variety of these traits will help land you this job. If you have:
   
   + an High School degree or GED, required
   
   + prior prepress experience for print production, preferred
   
   + large format and mailing experience, a plus
   
   + proficient knowledge in the use of Adobe products used for premedia setup
   
   On top of that you must:
   
   + pay close attention to details to complete projects accurately within deadlines, while meeting Company quality standards
   
   + have strong computer skills, including Adobe Creative Suite and Google suite
   
   + be self-motivated, a fast learner, and show initiative to seek out customer and corporate needs
   
   + have the ability to work independently, make decisions and solve problems independently, effectively and creatively
   
   + apply effective time management and self-management skills
   
   + understand and maintain the confidential nature of company, employee and customer information
   
   In this position, you will:
   
   + ensure that files and layouts contain the necessary components; checks colors and ensure they match the desired end product; checks file resolution.
   
   + prepare files to match the original art design.
   
   + prepare and check files to assure that they are printable; ensures files are imposed and stepped up to maximize yield of specified substrate and print device.
   
   + document, name files correctly, and rip files (converts to a format that printers can use) while ensuring colors are handled correctly.
   
   + use computers and systems (including hardware and software) to set up functions, enter data or process information.
   
   + follow all TBG protocol and procedures according to company standards.
   
   + use excellent interpersonal communication skills and is able to work with a variety of people and personalities to ensure high levels of internal and external customer service.
   
   + perform other duties as assigned by management.
   
   To get hired at The Bernard Group, you MUST be:
   
   + able to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing. Strong interpersonal skills including, demonstrated listening skills and the ability to present ideas and thoughts concisely and effectively both internally and outside the organization
   
   + willing to admit when you make a mistake (it happens to the best of us)
   
   + fiercely loyal to both our customers and teams
   
   + trustworthy, reliable, and easy to get along with
   
   + enthusiastic and eager to take on new challenges
   
   + adaptable and willing to wear whatever hat gets the job done
   
   TBG Overview:
   
   + We're a 750-person visual merchandising company
   
   + We are 100% employee-owned
   
   + We offer a generous paid time off benefit that increases with tenure
   
   + This is a full-time position in Chanhassen, MN
   
   The Art of Teams at TBG:
   
   We believe teams of top talent with clear objectives will consistently outperform centralized control. We put a great amount of energy into building skilled and diverse teams to handle our most challenging pursuits. It's the difference between average and being a world-class service provider.
   
   If you have the talent to do this job, a passion for excellence and are interested in joining the TBG team, please complete the form on this page.
   
   Thanks!The Bernard Group, Inc.
   
   The Bernard Group is an equal opportunity employer who celebrates diversity and who remains committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all employees.
   
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5. Post your job

   To find prepress digital technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any prepress digital technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level prepress digital technicians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your prepress digital technician job on Zippia to find and recruit prepress digital technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit prepress digital technicians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new prepress digital technician

   Once you've selected the best prepress digital technician candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new prepress digital technician. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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