Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Operate desktop publishing software and equipment to design, lay out, and produce camera-ready copy.
Position text and art elements from a variety of databases in a visually appealing way to design print or web pages, using knowledge of type styles and size and layout patterns.
Check preliminary and final proofs for errors and make necessary corrections.
View monitors for visual representation of work in progress and for instructions and feedback throughout process, making modifications as necessary.
Enter text into computer keyboard and select the size and style of type, column width, and appropriate spacing for printed materials.
Top skills:Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingSpeakingActive ListeningWriting
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Desktop Publisher pay by experience level
Entry level$37,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$45,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$57,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$76,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$99,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-12.4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
400
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Desktop Publisher salary by industry
Publishing Industries
1,480 workers
$63,500
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers
1,440 workers
$63,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
360 workers
$70,500
Educational Services
230 workers
$58,500
Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations
190 workers
$57,500
Administrative and Support Services
150 workers
$73,500
Educational Services, Privately Owned
150 workers
$58,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
120 workers
$67,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
100 workers
$66,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
100 workers
$66,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Desktop Publisher pays 19% above the average across 55 roles in the Office and Administrative Support job family (family average $54,000).
Similar-paying roles in Office and Administrative Support
Need Desktop Publisher pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
