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What does a print production specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

A print production specialist is in charge of overseeing the daily printing operations of a company. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their place or industry of employment, it typically includes identifying and understanding the clients' needs, preparing and processing materials for printing, operating devices and equipment, reviewing document specifications, and maintaining an active communication line with staff. They must also communicate and assist clients by answering inquiries, offering suggestions and promotions, and resolving issues and concerns promptly and efficiently.

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Print production specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real print production specialist resumes:

  • Manage CNC operators and test the quality of cut for a variety of woods, metals, and leather.
  • Develop a vast understanding of typesetting and a sensitivity to various fonts.
  • Support local Ricoh account management and lead customer sales with solution expertise, demonstrations, prepare and present proposals.
  • Monitor and troubleshoot equipment, conduct statistical process control tracking, visual and automate wafer inspection.

Print production specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 11% of Print Production Specialists are proficient in Production Equipment, Billing Purposes, and Data Entry. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Computer skills, and Customer-service skills.

We break down the percentage of Print Production Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Production Equipment, 11%

    Honed expertise through continual training on Konica-Minolta production equipment and applications for improved print and cost savings solutions.

  • Billing Purposes, 11%

    Tally the final production runs and work performed to assemble paperwork for billing purposes.

  • Data Entry, 8%

    Operate Xeikon 500 Printer, Data Entry and Clerical Work Perform major maintenance on office equipments

  • Customer Satisfaction, 8%

    Managed customer satisfaction, parts expenses, and inventory control.

  • Troubleshoot, 7%

    Maintain and troubleshoot photocopy machines and Xerox high speed and large format color printers.

  • Office Equipment, 6%

    Clean and maintain office equipment when necessary.

Common skills that a print production specialist uses to do their job include "production equipment," "billing purposes," and "data entry." You can find details on the most important print production specialist responsibilities below.

Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a print production specialist to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what print production specialists do because "customer service representatives must be able to provide clear information in writing, by phone, or in person." Additionally, a print production specialist resume shows how print production specialists use communication skills: "managed steady workflow of print production schedule and database coordinated interdepartmental trafficking of proofs and internal communications"

Customer-service skills. print production specialists are also known for customer-service skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to print production specialist responsibilities, because "representatives help companies retain customers by professionally answering questions and helping to resolve complaints." A print production specialist resume example shows how customer-service skills is used in the workplace: "supported local ricoh account management and lead customer sales with solution expertise, demonstrations, prepared and presented proposals. "

Listening skills. For certain print production specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "listening skills." The day-to-day duties of a print production specialist rely on this skill, as "representatives must listen carefully to ensure that they understand customers in order to assist them." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what print production specialists do: "communicated quality and timing issues between rrd customer service centers and internal manufacturing teams as needed in order to acquire resolution. "

Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for a print production specialist to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what print production specialists relies on this skill, since "representatives must determine solutions to customers’ problems." How this skill relates to print production specialist duties can be seen in an example from a print production specialist resume snippet: "hired as production printing business group specialist to help launch ricoh's high speed digital print solutions and services business unit. "

See the full list of print production specialist skills

Choose from 10+ customizable print production specialist resume templates

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Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume
Print Production Specialist Resume

Compare different print production specialists

Print production specialist vs. Roll tender

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.

We looked at the average print production specialist salary and compared it with the wages of a roll tender. Generally speaking, roll tenders are paid $2,963 higher than print production specialists per year.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between print production specialists and roll tender. For instance, print production specialist responsibilities require skills such as "production equipment," "billing purposes," "data entry," and "customer satisfaction." Whereas a roll tender is skilled in "load paper," "load rolls," "clean press," and "hand tools." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Roll tenders really shine in the media industry with an average salary of $36,580. Comparatively, print production specialists tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $56,138.roll tenders tend to reach similar levels of education than print production specialists. In fact, roll tenders are 3.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Print production specialist vs. Compositor

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.

On average, compositors earn a $11,999 higher salary than print production specialists a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both print production specialists and compositors have skills such as "adobe photoshop," "proofread," and "color correction. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real print production specialist resumes. While print production specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "production equipment," "billing purposes," "data entry," and "customer satisfaction," compositors use skills like "vfx," "visual effects," "animation," and "cg."

Compositors earn similar levels of education than print production specialists in general. They're 2.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Print production specialist vs. Pressman

On average scale, pressmen bring in higher salaries than print production specialists. In fact, they earn a $6,892 higher salary per year.By looking over several print production specialists and pressmen resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "press checks," "business cards," and "collating." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from print production specialist resumes include skills like "production equipment," "billing purposes," "data entry," and "customer satisfaction," whereas a pressman is more likely to list skills in "safety regulations," "preventative maintenance," "uv," and "web press. "

When it comes to education, pressmen tend to earn similar degree levels compared to print production specialists. In fact, they're 3.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Print production specialist vs. Press helper

Press helpers tend to earn a lower pay than print production specialists by an average of $1,310 per year.While their salaries may vary, print production specialists and press helpers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "production process," "offset printing," and "quality standards. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A print production specialist uses "production equipment," "billing purposes," "data entry," and "customer satisfaction." Press helpers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "pallets," "hand tools," "press operators," and "math. "The manufacturing industry tends to pay the highest salaries for press helpers, with average annual pay of $32,688. Comparatively, the highest print production specialist annual salary comes from the finance industry.press helpers reach similar levels of education compared to print production specialists, in general. The difference is that they're 4.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of print production specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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