How to hire a prepress supervisor

How to hire a prepress supervisor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step prepress supervisor 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 supervisor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new prepress supervisor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The prepress supervisor hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A prepress supervisor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, prepress supervisors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of prepress supervisor salaries for various roles:

   Type of Prepress Supervisor	Description	Hourly rate
   Prepress Supervisor		$17-33
   Quality Control Supervisor	A quality control supervisor specializes in carrying out and implementing systems and procedures that ensure product quality within an organization. They are primarily responsible for devising priorities and standards, managing schedules to abide by the production timeline, monitoring activities, coordinating with production and quality control personnel, assessing employee performance, and thoroughly discussing new systems for all staff... Show more	$22-41
   Operation Shift Supervisor	An operation shift supervisor oversees the company's day-to-day operations and employee performance. As an operation shift supervisor, you will perform a number of tasks that include assigning tasks to staff, ensuring all operations and sales run smoothly, and responding to inquiries and complaints from customers... Show more	$13-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Mac
   • Adobe Indesign
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Color Correction
   • Troubleshoot
   • Press Checks
   • Production Schedules
   • Desktop
   • CSR
   • Offset Printing
   • Graphic Design
   • Platemaking
   • CTP

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Attain significant reduction in labor through integration to CTP.
   • Manage all task and responsibilities relate to the administration, operation, maintenance of the aluminum extrusion plant.
   • Execute all procedures of pre-press: scanning, photo retouching, typesetting, PDF proofs, photo purchasing, review proofs.
   • Schedule desktop, stripping, and imaging.
   • Prepare files for CTP device for offset and screen printing.
   • Operate desktop publishing software and equipment to design, layout and produce camera-ready copy.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your prepress supervisor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A prepress supervisor can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, prepress supervisors' average salary in florida is 38% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level prepress supervisors 48% less than senior-level prepress supervisors.
   • Certifications. A prepress supervisor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a prepress supervisor's salary.

   Average prepress supervisor salary

   $50,216yearly

   $24.14 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level prepress supervisor salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a prepress supervisor job description

   A prepress supervisor 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. Below, you can find an example of a prepress supervisor job description:

   Prepress supervisor job description example

   Why Work at RRD?
   
   The common denominator to our innovation is extraordinary people. At RRD, our diverse group of talented marketing, creative, data, digital, print, research, technology, and engineering professionals take on our clients' challenges with bold thinking to achieve results.
   
   + We invest in you and your personal and professional development.
   
   + We offer opportunity to collaborate with teams across all platforms.
   
   + We focus on promotion from within so you can invest in your future.
   
   RRD is looking for an experienced Prepress Supervisor to join our team in Chamblee.
   
   Position Summary
   
   Responsible for co-management of the areas of graphics/press environment including production art, color management, prepress, flexoplate making and quality. Via efficient management of staff and technology, responsible for maximizing resources of the location. Provide leadership to on-site staff. Responsible for resolution of production issues.
   
   + Oversees digital print offering within our commercial print plant to include managing digital prepress and digital press operators and departmental workflow while assisting in new business development.
   
   + Provides leadership surrounding our digital print and fulfillment offering and is a key contributor in developing strategies leading to increased revenue and profitability.
   
   + Involved in assisting throughout a selling cycle by communicating with sales representatives and customers to identify needs and presenting solutions involving our digital/variable print capabilities.
   
   + Responsible for monitoring and measuring production metrics in comparison with estimated costs to ensure operational efficiencies.
   
   + Provides monthly management reports to measure progress.
   
   + Keeps updated on new developments in workflow and equipment and helps plan capital budget for new asset justification.
   
   + Controls materials and supplies within budget, approves requisitions and expense items.
   
   + Manage digital print operators in prepress and pressroom including performance evaluations, hiring, training, and development.
   
   + Develops and maintains effective workforce through performance leadership, employee involvement, education and communication which support inclusion and team effectiveness.
   
   + Along with other supervisors, responsible for administrative employment functions such as time entry, reporting, monitoring time off, project staffing, interviewing, hiring, training and performance management.
   
   + Facilitate regular staff meetings that allow for information exchange and employee development. Facilitate daily conversation with all employees to provide and solicit feedback and keep current on all interactional and functional issues.
   
   + Ensure RRD policies and procedures are communicated and adhered to.
   
   Required Skills
   
   -Prior work experience in a printing environment
   
   -Prior experience supervising others
   
   RRD is an EEO/AA including Vets and Disabled Employer
   
   Required Experience

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find prepress supervisors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your prepress supervisor job on Zippia to find and recruit prepress supervisor 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 supervisors, 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 supervisor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the prepress supervisor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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.

   To prepare for the new prepress supervisor first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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