Desktop Publishers Salary
Office and Administrative Support Occupations · 3.4K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$55,290
Median hourly
$27
Average annual
$61,970
Typical range
$35,680–$96,170
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Desktop Publishers is $55,290 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $27 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material..
Most earn between $35,680 and $96,170 a year. There are roughly 3.4K people employed as desktop publishers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Desktop Publishers.
- Hourly
- $26.58
- Daily
- $213
- Weekly
- $1,063
- Bi-weekly
- $2,127
- Monthly
- $4,608
- Annual
- $55,290
$55,290 a year is around the 50th percentile for Desktop Publisherss. The median is $55,290.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Colorado$77,750
- 2California$71,930
- 3Maryland$69,820
- 4New Jersey$63,020
- 5South Carolina$62,320
- 6Illinois$61,350
- 7Massachusetts$61,170
- 8Texas$57,760
- 9New York$56,660
- 10Minnesota$54,930
- 11Vermont$53,550
- 12Ohio$53,380
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$83,280
- 2Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$82,010
- 3Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$80,960
- 4Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$77,750
- 5Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$77,740
- 6Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$72,590
- 7Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$68,060
- 8Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$63,030
- 9New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$63,020
- 10Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$61,020
- 11Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$58,130
- 12Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$57,310
Related job titles
Employers advertise Desktop Publishers roles under these titles.
- Computer Compositor
- Computer Publisher
- Design Editor
- Desktop Publisher
- Desktop Publishing Associate
- Desktop Publishing Specialist
- Digital Publisher
- Digital Publishing Specialist
- Document Design Specialist
- DTP Operator (Desktop Publishing Operator)
- Electronic Console Display Operator
- Electronic Imager
- Electronic Pagination System Operator
- Electronic Prepress Systems Operator
- Electronic Publisher
- Electronic Publishing Specialist
Related occupations
What a Desktop Publishers does
- 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.
- Select number of colors and determine color separations.
- Convert various types of files for printing or for the Internet, using computer software.
- Edit graphics and photos, using pixel or bitmap editing, airbrushing, masking, or image retouching.
- Enter data, such as coordinates of images and color specifications, into system to retouch and make color corrections.
- Operate desktop publishing software and equipment to design, lay out, and produce camera-ready copy.
- Enter text into computer keyboard and select the size and style of type, column width, and appropriate spacing for printed materials.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Desktop Publishers make?
- The median annual wage for Desktop Publishers is $55,290 ($27 per hour). Pay ranges from about $35,680 at the 10th percentile to $96,170 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Desktop Publishers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $61,970, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Desktop Publisherss the most?
- Colorado has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $77,750.
- Is Desktop Publishers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 3.4K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Desktop Publishers do?
- 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.; Select number of colors and determine color separations..