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The differences between pressmen and compositors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a pressman and a compositor. Additionally, a compositor has an average salary of $45,101, which is higher than the $39,994 average annual salary of a pressman.
The top three skills for a pressman include safety regulations, preventative maintenance and UV. The most important skills for a compositor are VFX, visual effects, and animation.
| Pressman | Compositor | |
| Yearly salary | $39,994 | $45,101 |
| Hourly rate | $19.23 | $21.68 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 673 | 154 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A pressman is responsible for maintaining the printing press operations, maintaining the efficiency of the equipment and machinery to produce high-quality outputs. Pressmen ensure the readability and completeness of the content before distribution. They must be knowledgeable of the mechanical industry, spotting inconsistencies with the equipment, and performing immediate repairs or component replacement to avoid delays in operation. A pressman works closely with other printing operators to ensure that the outputs meet the clients' specifications and business' printing guidelines.
Compositors are the creators of a frame, shot, or sequence final image. They usually combine various digital elements to produce a believable picture. Following the direction of the style chosen for the set is part of these compositors' responsibilities. These workers create their visual effects and high-quality composites using special effects (SFX) like 2D and 3D animation and CGIs. They use these digital elements to create convincing shadows, enhance a picture's lighting, and static background plates.
Pressmen and compositors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pressman | Compositor | |
| Average salary | $39,994 | $45,101 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $51,000 | Between $23,000 And $85,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Pittsfield, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | - | Dassault Systèmes |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a pressman and a compositor in terms of educational background:
| Pressman | Compositor | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Animation |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between pressmen' and compositors' demographics:
| Pressman | Compositor | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% | Male, 62.7% Female, 37.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 6.1% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |