Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

The Work

Screen printers are involved in the process of transferring an image onto a wide variety of materials, such as:

• Clothing
• Paper
• Glass
• Stainless steel.

Screen printers set up and operate the machines used for printing images on to the materials listed above. They select and mix the inks to be used before starting a job. Then, the printer will make a stencil. This stencil will match the shape that they want to print on to the chosen material.

The stencil is fixed to a very fine mesh screen. The screen is then placed over the material, which is to be printed on. Thick coloured inks are then passed through the stencil onto the material below. The screens are used again once they have been cleaned.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
• Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.
• Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced.
• Maintain portfolios of artistic work to demonstrate styles, interests, and abilities.
• Market artwork through brochures, mailings, or Web sites.
• Study different techniques to learn how to apply them to artistic endeavors.
• Monitor events, trends, and other circumstances, research specific subject areas, attend art exhibitions, and read art publications to develop ideas and keep current on art world activities.
• Photograph objects, places, or scenes for reference material.
• Model substances such as clay or wax, using fingers and small hand tools to form objects.
• Create sculptures, statues, and other three-dimensional artwork by using abrasives and tools to shape, carve, and fabricate materials such as clay, stone, wood, or metal.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Entrants may hold a relevant degree in Art, Design, production & manufacturing engineering, chemistry or physics. Post-graduate courses in Textile technology are available. It is possible to work your way up from operative and technician level jobs to become a Clothing Technologist/Manager.  

Training & Development 

FET Centre Traineeship: Manufacturing Technician skills, Animation, Digital media production skills, Engineering-CAD & CNC (computer aided manufacturing), Quality management in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search our FET Coursefinder

FET PLC Courses: Creative Textiles, General Engineering, Textile Design, Art, Graphics & Printmaking - Visual Communications - Portfolio Preparation, Art portfolio  at NFQ Level 5-6 Search our FET PLC Coursefinder

Apprenticeship: Lean Sigma, Engineering & manufacturing Apprenticeships NFQ level 6-9 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Art, Textile for costume production. General Engineering, Manufacturing engineering, Textile & Surface Design and Jewellery & Objects, photography & visual media/ production courses at NFQ Levels 6-8 Search our CAO coursefinder

Professional Development 

Postgraduate Study Options Quality control, Engineering, and Management NFQ level 8-9

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €17k - €46k

Salaries Vary by employer, location, role, duties, shift pattern, and experience.

Data Source(s):
Indeed/ Payscale/ Talent/ DEASP/ Morgan Mckinley/ Clark/ Excel/ Osborne

Last Updated: March, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The five-year annual average employment growth rate was below average for this occupation, although there was an increase of over 2,000 persons employed between 2021 and 2022. As the Census data indicates, there are a large number of roles within this group, with many employing fewer than 1,000 persons. Between 2016 and 2022, employment levels fell for many of these roles.

Despite the decline in employment evident in the Census data, the Skills for Growth data indicates issues with recruitment of upholsterers for both the industry and retail (repair) sectors; upholsterers also appeared in the DSP Jobs Ireland vacancy data (albeit in small numbers), along with spray painters (included in the other skilled trades n.e.c. category). Although demand for many of these trades have declined in recent years, an increased focus on the circular economy may see increased demand, or at least slow the decline for roles such as upholsterers and tailors.

• Design & Craft Council of Ireland

  • Castle Yard, Kilkenny
  • (056) 77 61804
  • Click Here

• Irish printing federation

  • C/O Diarmuid Dawson, Duggan Industrial Estate, Athboy Road, Trim, Co. Meath
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here