Re: Pre Press vs. Press salaries
even though pre-press does present a need to continued education of it´s personnel, pressroom also has it´s needs. the stress levels in the press room are huge, regardless of the quality of the prep work (in this i add environmental stress in the form of noise, heat, vibrating frequencies and all that), and also, as someone posted in the lounge, pressroom also carries a greater danger to people. i know i´ve heard quite a efw tales of how people in the pressroom lost fingers, arms, and in one case, even the guys life was taken. that kind of hazard is not found in prep. sure you can end up with some nasty cuts (i have one myself), and work-related ailments, but it´s a lot harder to lose some bodypart in front of the computer than it is to lose one in a huge 12plater.
of course a good and experienced pressman is less likely to get involved in such an accident but the potential is there, and that alone grants him - imho - some bigger pay, though still in fair grounds.