CNC Programmers vs Prepress Technicians
Median pay is about $19k higher for CNC Programmers. Both usually start with the same education: postsecondary cert.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | CNC Programmers | Prepress Technicians |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $68,120, higher | $48,690 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $58,270, higher | $40,930 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $81,890, higher | $58,580 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +5.9% Growing fast, higher | -15% Declining |
| Openings a year | 2,700 | 2,100 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Postsecondary cert | Postsecondary cert |
| Difficulty modeled | 2 / 5 | 1.8 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Moderate | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 59th pct | 69th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only CNC Programmers
- Mathematics
Only Prepress Technicians
- Writing
Both lean on monitoring, reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, critical thinking.
More comparisons
Compare CNC Programmers with
Compare Prepress Technicians with
Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.