How much does a desktop publisher make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $26.58 an hour or $4,608 a month.
- Hourly
- $26.58
- Average (mean)
- $61,970
- Jobs
- 3,350
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,680 | $17.15 | |
| 25th | $43,730 | $21.02 | |
| Median | $55,290 | $26.58 | |
| 75th | $73,840 | $35.50 | |
| 90th | $96,170 | $46.24 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Colorado | $77,750 |
| California | $71,930 |
| Maryland | $69,820 |
| New Jersey | $63,020 |
| South Carolina | $62,320 |
| Illinois | $61,350 |
| Massachusetts | $61,170 |
| Texas | $57,760 |
| New York | $56,660 |
| Minnesota | $54,930 |
| Vermont | $53,550 |
| Ohio | $53,380 |
| Florida | $52,720 |
| Arizona | $52,000 |
| Oregon | $50,650 |
| Indiana | $49,070 |
| New Hampshire | $48,300 |
| Louisiana | $47,130 |
| Maine | $47,100 |
| Oklahoma | $46,040 |
| Wisconsin | $46,010 |
| Kentucky | $45,760 |
| Michigan | $45,300 |
| Tennessee | $44,440 |
| North Carolina | $43,700 |
| Georgia | $39,460 |
| Nebraska | $36,280 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $83,280 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $82,010 |
| Boston, MA | $80,960 |
| Sacramento, CA | $77,750 |
| Denver, CO | $77,740 |
| Washington, DC | $72,590 |
| Dallas, TX | $68,060 |
| Baltimore, MD | $63,030 |
| New York, NY | $63,020 |
| Portland, OR | $61,020 |
| Chicago, IL | $58,130 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $57,310 |
| Austin, TX | $54,980 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $50,980 |
| Houston, TX | $50,770 |
In other countries
Desktop Publisher belongs to the international group "Pre-press technicians".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Data Entry Keyer$41,340
- Word Processor and Typist$49,280
- Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk$49,230
- Mail Clerk and Mail Machine Operator$39,280
- Office Clerk$45,010
- Office Machine Operator$40,960
- Proofreader and Copy Marker$51,120
Frequently asked questions
How much does a desktop publisher make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $26.58 ($55,290 a year).
How much does a desktop publisher make a month?
About $4,608 a month before tax, based on a median of $55,290 a year.
How much does a desktop publisher make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,680 or less a year ($17.15 an hour); the top 10% make $96,170 or more.
Which state pays desktop publishers the most?
Colorado, with a median of $77,750 a year, followed by California ($71,930) and Maryland ($69,820).
Which city pays desktop publishers the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $83,280 a year.
How many desktop publishers are there in the United States?
About 3,350 people work as desktop publishers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.