by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Platemaker/Imager covers Platemaker/imager. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Prepare Film, Digital Data, And Surfaces To Reproduce Printed Or Graphic Images. Includes Instruction In Platemaking, Stripping, Camerawork, Imposition, Digital Imaging, Computer Direct-To-Plate And Direct-To-Press, And Related Processes. Read on to learn the essential details every platemaker/imager major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering platemaker/imager programs.
Across the country, platemaker/imager is a widely-pursued major, with 8 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Platemaker/Imager Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for platemaker/imager students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of platemaker/imager programs later in this article.
Coursework for Platemaker/Imager emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations platemaker/imager graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a platemaker/imager program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a platemaker/imager major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several platemaker/imager degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4 |
People currently working in careers related to platemaker/imager tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 39.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 23.2% |
| Some college courses | 20.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 9.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in platemaker/imager careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying platemaker/imager opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to platemaker/imager.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to platemaker/imager.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | 442,588 | 12.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of platemaker/imager graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,061 |
| 4 years | $41,119 |
| 5 years | $47,590 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for platemaker/imager graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers platemaker/imager grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | $25,852 |
With 2 different platemaker/imager programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased platemaker/imager school rankings to help you.
Those considering platemaker/imager, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
