How much does a desktop publisher make?
a year · about $27 an hour
A typical desktop publisher in the United States makes $55,290 a year, about $27 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They review text and pictures, fix or crop images, and arrange words and art into clean page layouts. Then they adjust type size and spacing, make corrections, and send the finished files to print or online.
Did you know? Desktop publishers can combine text with scanned photos or digital art, then send a master file to a printer for production.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $35,680 and $96,170How do you become one?
In the U.S., most desktop publishers earn an associate’s degree, often in graphic design or graphic communications. They usually learn the job from an experienced coworker, with about a month of on-the-job training.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like keeping things organized and creating
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can vary with experience and skill, and with the industry, employer, and location. Valued credentials and more complex or responsible design tasks can also make a difference.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Colorado ($77,750), lowest in Nebraska ($36,280).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $35,680 | $55,290 | $96,170 | about 3,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $77,750 | — |
| California | $71,930 | about 320 |
| Maryland | $69,820 | about 140 |
| New Jersey | $63,020 | about 100 |
| South Carolina | $62,320 | about 40 |
Official definition: Format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/OOH/office-and-administrative-support/desktop-publishers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-9031.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY