Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Associate's degree
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Desktop publishers work at the intersection of creativity, technology, and detail-focused production. With a national median annual salary of $53,620 and national employment of about 5,000, this is a relatively small occupation that combines creativity and innovation, computers and information technology, and strong writing and reading abilities. The role favors people who are highly detail oriented, have solid fine motor skills, and can manage projects from start to finish while communicating clearly through speaking and listening. Critical and analytical thinking and adaptability are also important, reflecting the need to handle changing projects and technical tools. While projected employment growth is -12.4% with no annual openings indicated nationally, there are still pockets of opportunity in specific states and metro areas, some of which offer higher median salaries than the national figure. Related paths such as graphic designers, web developers, special effects artists and animators, artists and related workers, and film and video editors may appeal to those with similar interests and skills.
Desktop publishers earn a national median annual salary of $53,620, but pay varies significantly by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, California stands out with a median salary of $71,930, and Maryland is also high at $69,820. Massachusetts and Texas offer median salaries of $61,170 and $57,760, respectively, while New York is closer to the national figure at $56,660. Looking at metro areas, salary levels can rise even further. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro has a median salary of $83,280, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is close behind at $80,960. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV offers $72,590, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ comes in at $63,020. These figures suggest that earning potential is particularly strong in certain metro areas and select states compared with the national median.
Nationally, desktop publishers have employment of about 5,000 workers and a projected employment growth rate of -12.4%. The projection indicates a shrinking workforce for this occupation. Annual openings are listed as 0, reinforcing that expansion demand is not expected to drive new positions over the projection period. This does not rule out individual hiring, but it signals limited overall job creation. The same -12.4% growth rate appears across the top states and metro areas by opportunity score, indicating that this downward trend is broad-based rather than concentrated in just one region. Given this environment, people interested in this field may want to pay close attention to where the strongest current employment concentrations and compensation levels are, as those locations could offer comparatively more stable or attractive roles, even within a declining national picture.
Location makes a substantial difference for desktop publishers in both salary and employment concentration. Among states with the highest opportunity scores, California, New York, and Texas show relatively larger employment levels, at 320, 350, and 270 workers respectively, compared with 140 in Maryland and 80 in Massachusetts. California and Maryland stand out for higher median salaries, at $71,930 and $69,820, while Massachusetts, New York, and Texas cluster between about $56,000 and $61,000. Metro-level data reveal even more pronounced differences. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has an opportunity score of 77.27 with 320 employed and a median salary of $63,020. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH offer some of the highest metro salaries at $83,280 and $80,960, though with smaller employment of 60 each. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN combine moderate-to-strong salaries with employment around 120, illustrating varied tradeoffs between pay and job concentration.
The typical education level for desktop publishers is an associate's degree. This requirement suggests a focused postsecondary program rather than a longer academic path. Success in this occupation depends on a blend of technical and creative abilities. Key strengths include creativity and innovation, along with competence in computers and information technology. Strong writing and reading skills support work that involves text, while speaking and listening help in collaborating and coordinating projects. Detail orientation and fine motor skills are also emphasized, pointing to careful, precise work. Project management and critical and analytical thinking round out the skill profile, supporting planning, organizing, and problem-solving within publishing workflows. Adaptability and some mechanical aptitude are additionally valuable, reflecting the need to work effectively with changing tools and processes. People with these skills who are comfortable pursuing an associate's degree may find this career’s preparation path relatively clear and structured, with related options in areas such as graphic design, web development, or other visual and media occupations.
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