Desktop Publisher salary in the U.S.
Desktop Publishers in the U.S. earn a median of $55,290 a year ($26.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,350 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,170 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $61,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for desktop publishers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,680 | $17.16 |
| 25th percentile | $43,730 | $21.02 |
| Median | $55,290 | $26.58 |
| 75th percentile | $73,840 | $35.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,170 | $46.23 |
| Average (mean) | $61,970 | $29.79 |
Half of desktop publishers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,607.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,303.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,126.54 |
| Weekly | $1,063.27 |
| Hourly | $26.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Desktop Publisher salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $77,750 | n/a |
| California | $71,930 | 320 |
| Maryland | $69,820 | 140 |
| New Jersey | $63,020 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $62,320 | 40 |
| Illinois | $61,350 | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $61,170 | 80 |
| Texas | $57,760 | 270 |
| New York | $56,660 | 350 |
| Minnesota | $54,930 | 90 |
| Vermont | $53,550 | 50 |
| Ohio | $53,380 | 60 |
| Florida | $52,720 | 150 |
| Arizona | $52,000 | 30 |
| Oregon | $50,650 | 90 |
| Indiana | $49,070 | 130 |
| New Hampshire | $48,300 | 30 |
| Louisiana | $47,130 | 40 |
| Maine | $47,100 | 30 |
| Oklahoma | $46,040 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $46,010 | 40 |
| Kentucky | $45,760 | 40 |
| Michigan | $45,300 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $44,440 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $43,700 | 80 |
| Georgia | $39,460 | 230 |
| Nebraska | $36,280 | 40 |
Best-paying metro areas for desktop publishers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $83,280 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82,010 | n/a |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $80,960 | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $77,750 | 60 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $77,740 | n/a |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $72,590 | 120 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $68,060 | 90 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $63,030 | 60 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $63,020 | 320 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $61,020 | 40 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $58,130 | 120 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $57,310 | 50 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $54,980 | 40 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $50,980 | 60 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50,770 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most desktop publishers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 320 | $63,020 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 140 | $42,730 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 120 | $58,130 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 120 | $72,590 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 90 | $68,060 |
| Anchorage, AK | 70 | $35,690 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 60 | $63,030 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 60 | $80,960 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 60 | $50,980 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 60 | $77,750 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 60 | $83,280 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 50 | $50,770 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 50 | $57,310 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 40 | $54,980 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 40 | $61,020 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Office Clerks, General | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks | $49,230 | $23.67 |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Data Entry Keyer | $41,340 | $19.88 |
| Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service | $39,280 | $18.89 |
| Word Processors and Typists | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| Office Machine Operators, Except Computer | $40,960 | $19.69 |
| Statistical Assistant | $50,330 | $24.20 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $51,120 | $24.58 |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,770 | $21.53 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $69,500 | $33.41 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $50,670 | $24.36 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $45,930 | $22.08 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-9031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a desktop publisher make in the U.S.?
The median salary for desktop publishers in the U.S. is $55,290 a year, or $26.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid desktop publishers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of desktop publishers in the U.S. earn at least $96,170 a year. The top 25% earn $73,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for desktop publishers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,680 a year, and a quarter of desktop publishers earn $43,730 or less.
How many desktop publishers work in the U.S.?
About 3,350 desktop publishers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.