43 Series · SOC 43-9031
Desktop Publishers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $55,290
- Median / year
- $96,170
- Top 10% earn
- -12.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 3,350
- US workers
Desktop Publishers earn a median of $55,290 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $55,290, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $35,680 (10th percentile) to $96,170 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 3,350 US workers. Colorado pays the most ($77,750), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Desktop Publishers earn a median of $55,290, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 41% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Office and Administrative Support, it ranks #10 of 54 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 12.4% by 2033.
- $55,290
- Median annual wage
- Top 59%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #10 of 54
- in Office and Administrative Support
- 2.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Colorado at $77,750. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Desktop Publishers (SOC 43-9031) pays a national median of $55,290 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $35,680 at the 10th percentile to $96,170 at the 90th, with a mean of $61,970 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 3,350 Americans work in this occupation across 27 reporting states and 17 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -12.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 400 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Associate's degree and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Colorado pays the highest state median at $77,750, which is +41% above the national figure. The top metro is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $83,280 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$55,290
per year
Median Hourly
$26.58/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$61,970
average
Employment
3,350
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Desktop Publishers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$55,290 Bottom 41% higher than 41% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 43-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Desktop Publishers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 43-series occupations with growth data, Desktop Publishers sits on the slower-growing side at -12.4% growth and $55,290 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-12.4%
Declining
Annual Openings
400
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Associate's degree
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.5/100K
Injury Rate
1/100
Danger Index
4.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Desktop Publishers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Import text and art elements, such as electronic clip art or electronic files from photographs that have been scanned or produced with a digital camera, using computer software.
- ▸ Transmit, deliver, or mail publication master to printer for production into film and plates.
- ▸ Study layout or other design instructions to determine work to be done and sequence of operations.
- ▸ Collaborate with graphic artists, editors and writers to produce master copies according to design specifications.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$35,680
25th Percentile
$43,730
Median
$55,290
75th Percentile
$73,840
90th Percentile
$96,170
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 27 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $77,750 | +41% above national |
| 2 | California | $71,930 | +30% above national |
| 3 | Maryland | $69,820 | +26% above national |
| 4 | New Jersey | $63,020 | +14% above national |
| 5 | South Carolina | $62,320 | +13% above national |
| 6 | Illinois | $61,350 | +11% above national |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $61,170 | +11% above national |
| 8 | Texas | $57,760 | +4% above national |
| 9 | New York | $56,660 | +2% above national |
| 10 | Minnesota | $54,930 | 1% below national |
| 11 | Vermont | $53,550 | 3% below national |
| 12 | Ohio | $53,380 | 3% below national |
| 13 | Florida | $52,720 | 5% below national |
| 14 | Arizona | $52,000 | 6% below national |
| 15 | Oregon | $50,650 | 8% below national |
| 16 | Indiana | $49,070 | 11% below national |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $48,300 | 13% below national |
| 18 | Louisiana | $47,130 | 15% below national |
| 19 | Maine | $47,100 | 15% below national |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $46,040 | 17% below national |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $46,010 | 17% below national |
| 22 | Kentucky | $45,760 | 17% below national |
| 23 | Michigan | $45,300 | 18% below national |
| 24 | Tennessee | $44,440 | 20% below national |
| 25 | North Carolina | $43,700 | 21% below national |
| 26 | Georgia | $39,460 | 29% below national |
| 27 | Nebraska | $36,280 | 34% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 17 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $83,280 | +51% above national |
| 2 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82,010 | +48% above national |
| 3 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $80,960 | +46% above national |
| 4 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $77,750 | +41% above national |
| 5 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $77,740 | +41% above national |
| 6 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $72,590 | +31% above national |
| 7 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $68,060 | +23% above national |
| 8 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $63,030 | +14% above national |
| 9 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $63,020 | +14% above national |
| 10 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $61,020 | +10% above national |
| 11 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $58,130 | +5% above national |
| 12 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $57,310 | +4% above national |
| 13 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $54,980 | 1% below national |
| 14 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $50,980 | 8% below national |
| 15 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50,770 | 8% below national |
| 16 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $42,730 | 23% below national |
| 17 | Anchorage, AK | $35,690 | 35% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 43 (office and administrative support) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Desktop Publishers make? ▼
What state pays Desktop Publishers the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Desktop Publishers? ▼
How dangerous is being a Desktop Publishers? ▼
Is Desktop Publishers a good career? ▼
How does Desktop Publishers pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Desktop Publishers? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Desktop Publishers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $73,840/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Colorado leads at $77,750/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.