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Industrial printer printing pages

Print Technician

Designing, producing and testing different print materials and inks to ensure you're creating the best product every time

How this role makes a difference

Even though communications are increasingly digital, there are still many different items that are printed. That’s everything from leaflets, birthday cards and wrapping paper, to product packaging, billboard advertising and money.

The printing industry is technologically advanced and as well as printing designs and colours, some printers also produce textures and even print different smells. You could be the technician who helps to bring creative design ideas to life, with accurate printing that achieves exactly the right standard on every printed item.

The kind of work you’ll do

  • Understanding customers’ print specifications
  • Preparing printing presses for new projects
  • Making sure colours match the required standards
  • Carrying out quality checks as presses are running
  • Maintaining machinery
  • Working to strict delivery deadlines
Useful skills
Logical thinking
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Instructing others
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Decisive
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Precise
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Attention to detail
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the role

An interest in the graphic design and communication industry.

The confidence to learn about and operate new machinery.

Skill at considering problems logically and identifying solutions or improvements.

The natural ability to supervise and instruct other people effectively.

A consistently careful approach to producing written reports and records.

The ability to make sound, accurate judgements in pressurised situations.

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- art, film, fashion and design

- exploring problems and finding answers

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

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*according to ONS

Future career opportunities

You can choose to focus on one of three areas in the early stages of your printing career, making sure everything is technically correct either before you print, as you print, or afterwards.

With experience, you could become a production manager or take on a sales and management role in a major UK or worldwide printer. Alternatively you could become involved in print innovation, helping to push the industry forward and solve new creative challenges.

How to get into this role

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:  

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

You’ll see the items you help to print all around you, in marketing and advertising campaigns, in shops, or even – if you print money – in people’s wallets! You’ll get to know different print materials and inks, how to programme large printing presses and how digital design files become a printed item.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Pre-Press Technician
Press Technician
Post-Press Technician

Paper aeroplane

What are your next steps?

Discover our expert advice on the different pathways available and how to get into your dream role.

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