Desktop Publishers

Median salary

$55,290

Average salary

$61,970

Employment

3,350

Projected growth

12.4% decline

Annual openings

400

Typical entry education

Associate's degree

What Desktop Publishers Do

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

See full salary breakdown & percentiles →

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed: 16.8%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

How Much Preparation Does This Take?

Job Zone 3 of 5

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Job training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Source: O*NET Job Zones.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

Computers and Electronicsimportance 4.0/5
Communications and Mediaimportance 3.6/5
English Languageimportance 3.4/5
Administrativeimportance 2.8/5
Production and Processingimportance 2.8/5
Designimportance 2.6/5
Mathematicsimportance 2.5/5
Education and Trainingimportance 2.2/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

E-Mail5.0/5
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled4.8/5
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.7/5
Spend Time Sitting4.6/5
Time Pressure4.5/5
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate4.4/5

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary94% skill match
Medical Dosimetrists93% skill match
Architectural and Civil Drafters93% skill match
Survey Researchers93% skill match
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary92% skill match
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary92% skill match
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary92% skill match
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary91% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.6/5
Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.1/5
Time Managementimportance 3.1/5
Social Perceptivenessimportance 3.0/5
Coordinationimportance 2.9/5
Service Orientationimportance 2.9/5
Operations Analysisimportance 2.9/5
Management of Personnel Resourcesimportance 2.9/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Hot Technologies

Other Software Used

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

Attention to Detail
Dependability
Innovation
Cautiousness
Achievement Orientation
Perseverance
Adaptability

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

ConventionalHigh
ArtisticMedium
RealisticMedium
InvestigativeLow
EnterprisingLow
SocialLow

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.