Electronic Pagination System Workers
Description OES Code: 89707
Using a computer screen, call up type and art elements from computer memory and position them into a completed page, using knowledge of type styles and size and composition patterns. The composited page is then transmitted for production into film or directly into plates.

Wages, California
Entry-Level Hourly Wage $11.52
25th Percentile $13.08
50th Percentile $16.85
75th Percentile $21.87

Wages by California County
• OES Survey
• CCOIS Survey

Hours & Benefits
The average nonsupervisory worker in the printing industry worked approximately 38.3 hours per week in 1998, compared to 41.7 hours per week across all manufacturing industries. Workers in the industry generally put in an 8-hour day, but overtime often is required to meet publication deadlines. Some employees, particularly those employed by newspapers, work nights, weekends, and holidays. Larger companies tend to have shift work. There is a fair amount of flexibility with shift schedules and overtime, which is largely based on seniority.

Employment Trends, California
Employment 1998 2,400
Projected Employment 2008 4,700
Percent Change 1998-2008 95.8%
Separations 1998-2008 600

Employment Trends by California County

Advancement
Opportunities for advancement depend on the specific plant or shop. Technological changes will continue to introduce new types of computerized equipment or dictate new work procedures, and retraining will be essential to careers in printing and publishing.

Getting the Job & Other Information
Electronic Pagination System Operators and related workers find employed opportunities in the industries of commercial printing, book printing, manifold business forms, typesetting, platemaking services, newspapers, periodicals, book publishing, miscellaneous publishing, and greeting cards.

For a list of current job listing, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.

Education and Training
Workers enter the printing and publishing industry with various educational backgrounds. In general, job applicants must be high school graduates with mathematical, verbal, and written communication skills, and be computer literate. A bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or English provides a good background for those wishing to become reporters or writers. Experience on school newspapers and internships with news organizations are also beneficial. In the past, apprenticeships were quite common for specialized printing occupations. Now, workers are usually trained informally on the job.

Skills & Other Requirements
Among the skills and abilities that are important for Electronic Pagination Systems Operators are the following: Create Art From Ideas, Distinguish Details In Graphic Production Setting, Use Computer Aided Design Software, Use Computer Design/Graphics, Technology /Software, Use Paper Characteristics In Publishing & Printing Processes, Use Word Processing Software, Apply Graphic Arts Techniques, Perceive Color/Balance/Proportion In Graphic & Related Production, Use Desktop Publishing Software, Write Headlines.

References
US Bureau Of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

Related Occupations: Printing and Publishing Occupations

Training: California Training and Education Providers (CTEP)