Occupations · Office and Administrative Support
Desktop Publishers
Format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 43-9031.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 70% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $70,500 | 400 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $55,870 | 170 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $74,410 | 150 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $61,020 | 110 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $65,330 | 90 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $36,460 | 90 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,210 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $65,710 | 60 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $75,490 | 60 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | $72,820 | 50 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | $59,130 | 50 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $54,600 | 50 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: Associate's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- 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.
- Select number of colors and determine color separations.
- Convert various types of files for printing or for the Internet, using computer software.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2021-08
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2021-08
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 10 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.
Now listed 31
No longer listed 29
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| desktop publisher | 2166.5 | exact |
| graphic designer | 2166.10 | close |
| typesetter | 7321.1.6 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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