Overview

This field might not have the prominence that it had in previous years, but this industry is still kicking despite it becoming increasingly obsolete. There is still a need for print media, especially as some people are resisting the digital era of their books and magazines. Those people still have to hold the physical objects they are reading and flipping the pages. These are the ones keeping printing alive.

There is a little bit of variety in the positions available within this industry. There are more specialized fields involving print technology to dealing with the customers. Some positions require experience and education while others do not. There could be a few different options for a variety of people. This is especially true if you have a knack to turn the print media into digital media.

This can be an exciting type of career to join. While the hours are not as flexible as other industries, it can provide for a good 9-5 job, which sometimes offers overtime to complete bigger products. This can mean it can be ideal for people who want a predictable schedule for either spending time with their families or to make time for other ventures they would want to do.

Job Opportunities

Here are some employment opportunities that you can find within this industry:

Printing Press Operator: Their main priority is handling the printing press. They must operate and tend to it as they were trained to. They perform tasks such as letterpress, offset lithography, flexography, and gravure. The operator will prepare items for printing, and must handle different presses with different size and color capabilities. They will have to adjust the ink rollers accordingly to make the ink flow properly. They should ensure that the ink and paper match the printing needs of the job they are doing. The printing press operator will make any adjustments that are needed to the ink and other chamber of the press. They should know how to handle paper jam and tears and adjust accordingly. They check for any imperfections and errors and must be able to promptly fix them. They will perform any repairs that are necessary on the equipment. They are also responsible for doing any preventative maintenance to ensure that everything is working properly and to lengthen the lifespan of their equipment. The area where an operator works can often be very noisy so be prepared for that. A high school diploma or equivalent is usually required for this position but it might be preferred to at least have an associate’s degree. Otherwise, they will need to complete any on the job training. They can earn around $12,000 a year in this position to start off.

Print Binding: After the materials are printed, they need to be placed together in the particular formats that they need to be distributed as. If it is a book, they need to use the necessary tools to properly bind everything in the book. They should be able to properly cut down the materials to fit into the binding properly and be even so it looks neat. They are tasked with putting together the cover, and emboss or imprint lettering and numbers on the covers. The binder will look at invoices to determine the size the material should be and set up the machinery accordingly. When the products are completed, they then will put them in packaging and place them in boxes, then on top of pallets for delivery. They will do any repairs that are needed on their machineries. They also will take care of any preventative maintenance to keep the machines in working order. An associate’s degree is required for this position, though sometimes further education is preferred. A binder can make around $16 per hour.

Customer Service Representative: The customer service rep will deal with customers that call into the facility. They write up the customer’s orders, and then give pricing information on the services requested. They should know all about the services and capabilities of their printing service in order to relay that information to the customers and answer any questions they might have. They participate in meetings that accord before and after production to ensure the staff is all on the same page with how the customer expects their product. They coordinate the team to ensure the order is completed as requested. They should keep up to date with any new technology that is relevant to this field. To be successful in this position, you will need to have excellent interpersonal skills. You should be able to work independently and solve any problems that might arise. You will need at least a high school diploma or equivalent for this job. A customer service rep can earn around $11 per hour.

Print Procurement Manager: They manage the printing staff to ensure everything is running smoothly and according to the deadline and customer’s orders. They oversee the entire operation and will assign duties to their staff. They should have knowledge of their machinery that is being used to train their staff or to fill in when needed. They ensure the quality of the final product meets the company’s standards. They must keep informed on all the technology in this field so that they can keep their staff up to date on new technologies and train their staff to use them. They will help keep the clients informed of the most cost-effective way to accomplish what they want. To be a print procurement manager, you will need to have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. It is also required to have previous printing experience, including management experience. They can earn $68,000 a year.

Job Outlook

The job growth in this field is expected to decline by 5%. This is a big difference from the expected average of 11% across the nation in other industries. This decline is as a result of the increase of digital media. As a result, the print media is slowly being phased out by this much less expensive and easier to access digital media.