How much does a desktop publisher make?

The median pay is $26.58 per hour — roughly $55,500 a year, with the real range running from about $17.16/hr (10th percentile) to $46.23/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a desktop publisher?

The typical entry-level education is: Associate degree. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

What does a desktop publisher actually do all day?

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.

Office & Administrative

Desktop Publishers

Format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material.

What it pays
Desktop Publishers earn a median of $26.58/hr — about $55,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $17.16/hr; the top 10% earn $46.23/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

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.
Prepare sample layouts for approval, using computer software.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Associate degree. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the day is spent working solo; time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 16.8% of desktop publishers are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are organized and detail-focused, creative and hands-on.

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Related careers

Quick questions

How much does a desktop publisher make?: The median pay is $26.58 per hour — roughly $55,500 a year, with the real range running from about $17.16/hr (10th percentile) to $46.23/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a desktop publisher?: The typical entry-level education is: Associate degree. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
What does a desktop publisher actually do all day?: 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.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.