How much does a Platemaker make in Aurora, SD?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Platemaker in Aurora, SD is $45,726 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

However, a Platemaker's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $54,931
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $41,217 to $50,544
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $37,111

Key Factors That Influence Platemaker Salaries

A Platemaker's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Platemaker Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Platemaker's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $44,919
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $45,870
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $47,884
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $48,099
  • Expert (over 8 years): $48,243
Levels Salary
Entry Level Platemaker$44,919
Intermediate Level Platemaker$45,870
Senior Level Platemaker$47,884
Specialist Level Platemaker$48,099
Expert Level Platemaker$48,243

Top Paying Cities for Platemaker

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $62,476
  • San Francisco: $61,792
  • Oakland: $60,490

What Skills Can Increase a Platemaker's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 2.76% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Adobe Illustrator (Mentioned in 3.73% Job Postings): Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and design program developed and marketed by Adobe Inc. Graphic designers use Illustrator to create vector graphics. You can produce logos, detailed illustrations, web page designs and many more.
  • Color Management (Mentioned in 1.8% Job Postings): In digital imaging systems, color management (or colour management) is the controlled conversion between the color representations of various devices, such as image scanners, digital cameras, monitors, TV screens, film printers, computer printers, offset presses, and corresponding media. The primary goal of color management is to obtain a good match across color devices; for example, the colors of one frame of a video should appear the same on a computer LCD monitor, on a plasma TV screen, and as a printed poster. Color management helps to achieve the same appearance on all of these devices, provided the devices are capable of delivering the needed color intensities. With photography it is often critical that prints or online gallery appear how they were intended. Color management cannot guarantee identical color reproduction, as this is rarely possible, but it can at least give more control over any changes which may occur.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 2.76%
Adobe Illustrator 3.73%
Color Management 1.8%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Platemaker's salary.

  • Housekeeping: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Print Production: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Housekeeping $53,043
16%
Print Production $51,671
13%
Time Management $51,214
12%

Platemaker Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Platemaker salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $50,482. While startup companies pay approximate $42,736.

Platemaker Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $42,736
Growth Stage 51~500 $45,189
Established 501~5000 $48,759
Enterprise 5000+ $50,482

Platemaker Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Platemaker roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Retail & Wholesale sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Platemaker positions in Aerospace & Defense or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Platemaker as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Platemaker

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$69,346$33.040%
Retail & Wholesale$64,393$31.030%
MFG Nondurable$59,440$29.020%
MFG Durable$54,486$26.010%

Platemaker Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Platemaker's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$41,217
Average $45,726/year
$50,544
$3,435
Average $3,811/month
$4,212
$793
Average $879/week
$972
$20
Average $22/hour
$24
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $50,544 $4,212 $972 $24
Average $45,726 $3,811 $879 $22
25th Percentile $41,217 $3,435 $793 $20

Platemaker Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Platemaker, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Platemaker Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Injection Molding Machine Operator III $52,304 14%
Machine Operator III $47,633 4%
Machinist III $60,714 33%
CNC Machine Operator III $57,910 27%

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Cost of Living In Aurora, SD

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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