Prepress operator vs typographer

The differences between prepress operators and typographers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a prepress operator and a typographer. Additionally, a typographer has an average salary of $42,971, which is higher than the $41,006 average annual salary of a prepress operator.

The top three skills for a prepress operator include mac, graphic design and adobe creative suite. The most important skills for a typographer are typesetting, mac, and adobe indesign.

Prepress operator vs typographer overview

	Prepress Operator	Typographer
Yearly salary	$41,006	$42,971
Hourly rate	$19.71	$20.66
Growth rate	-14%	-
Number of jobs	25,849	62
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	4	4

Prepress operator vs typographer salary

Prepress operators and typographers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Prepress Operator	Typographer
Average salary	$41,006	$42,971
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $57,000	Between $26,000 And $70,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between prepress operator and typographer education

There are a few differences between a prepress operator and a typographer in terms of educational background:

	Prepress Operator	Typographer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Graphic Design	Graphic Design
Most common college	University of Texas at Austin	Stanford University

Prepress operator vs typographer demographics

Here are the differences between prepress operators' and typographers' demographics:

	Prepress Operator	Typographer
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 66.9% Female, 33.1%	Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 8.4% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 7.3% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	13%	13%

Differences between prepress operator and typographer duties and responsibilities

Prepress operator example responsibilities.

Make PDF files manages fonts, scans using flat bed scanners and download PDF files and import them into page layout.
Perform G7 color certification Epson inkjet proofing systems.
Provide customers with troubleshooting assistance and procedures on postscript, imposition, trapping, color management and PDF issues.
Work in Macintosh and PC environment.
Output printing plates using Creo Trendsetter.
Work perform on Macintosh and PC computers.

Typographer example responsibilities.

Manage each project from typesetting to print production.
Advance technical typesetting for advertising agencies and graphic designers.
Identify discrepancies with sales/customer service representative; press and bindery operators, technical support.
Generate booklets, pamphlets and other literature for BCBS policies and distribute the materials throughout Massachusetts.

Prepress operator vs typographer skills

Common prepress operator skills

Mac, 8%
Graphic Design, 8%
Adobe Creative Suite, 7%
PC, 6%
BARS, 6%
Desktop, 5%

Common typographer skills

Typesetting, 57%
Mac, 25%
Adobe Indesign, 19%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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