Desktop Publishers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for desktop publisherss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- California$78,250
- Colorado$76,500
- New York$68,540
- Maryland$67,050
- South Carolina$66,880
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $78,250 | $71,930 | $38 | +26.3% | 320 |
| 2 | Colorado | $76,500 | $77,750 | $37 | +23.4% | — |
| 3 | New York | $68,540 | $56,660 | $33 | +10.6% | 350 |
| 4 | Maryland | $67,050 | $69,820 | $32 | +8.2% | 140 |
| 5 | South Carolina | $66,880 | $62,320 | $32 | +7.9% | 40 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $66,750 | $63,020 | $32 | +7.7% | 100 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $65,980 | $61,170 | $32 | +6.5% | 80 |
| 8 | Illinois | $61,780 | $61,350 | $30 | -0.3% | 150 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $60,680 | $54,930 | $29 | -2.1% | 90 |
| 10 | Arizona | $59,390 | $52,000 | $29 | -4.2% | 30 |
| 11 | Oregon | $57,850 | $50,650 | $28 | -6.6% | 90 |
| 12 | Ohio | $57,570 | $53,380 | $28 | -7.1% | 60 |
| 13 | Texas | $56,360 | $57,760 | $27 | -9.1% | 270 |
| 14 | Florida | $55,420 | $52,720 | $27 | -10.6% | 150 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $54,240 | $48,300 | $26 | -12.5% | 30 |
| 16 | Georgia | $53,930 | $39,460 | $26 | -13% | 230 |
| 17 | Tennessee | $51,800 | $44,440 | $25 | -16.4% | 40 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $51,410 | $43,700 | $25 | -17% | 80 |
| 19 | Vermont | $50,230 | $53,550 | $24 | -18.9% | 50 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $50,070 | $46,040 | $24 | -19.2% | 40 |
| 21 | Michigan | $50,000 | $45,300 | $24 | -19.3% | 40 |
| 22 | Indiana | $49,730 | $49,070 | $24 | -19.8% | 130 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $49,690 | $47,130 | $24 | -19.8% | 40 |
| 24 | Maine | $46,280 | $47,100 | $22 | -25.3% | 30 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $45,630 | $46,010 | $22 | -26.4% | 40 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $42,250 | $45,760 | $20 | -31.8% | 40 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $39,460 | $36,280 | $19 | -36.3% | 40 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 18 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $83,280 | $89,920 | 60 |
| 2 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82,010 | $82,020 | — |
| 3 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $80,960 | $71,350 | 60 |
| 4 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $77,750 | $75,730 | 60 |
| 5 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $77,740 | $76,270 | — |
| 6 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $72,590 | $71,360 | 120 |
| 7 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $68,060 | $61,690 | 90 |
| 8 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $63,030 | $63,180 | 60 |
| 9 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $63,020 | $73,830 | 320 |
| 10 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $61,020 | $61,400 | 40 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing desktop publisherss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legal Services | $101,000 | $102,300 | 70 |
| 2 | Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $78,710 | $75,780 | 90 |
| 3 | Administrative and Support Services | $71,050 | $70,950 | 150 |
| 4 | Sector 56 - Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $71,050 | $71,070 | 150 |
| 5 | State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $70,630 | $69,370 | 80 |
| 6 | Scientific Research and Development Services | $69,420 | $73,710 | 40 |
| 7 | Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $69,080 | $66,220 | 90 |
| 8 | Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities | $69,080 | $63,870 | — |
| 9 | Insurance Agencies and Brokerages | $69,080 | $63,570 | — |
| 10 | Sector 52 - Finance and Insurance | $69,080 | $63,910 | 120 |
| 11 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $67,260 | $73,910 | 30 |
| 12 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $64,630 | $64,610 | 120 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do desktop publishers make in the U.S.?
The median desktop publishers salary in the United States is $55,290 per year (mean $61,970), and about 80% earn between $35,680 and $96,170.
How much do desktop publishers make per hour?
Roughly $30 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $61,970 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays desktop publishers the most?
California has the highest average pay for desktop publishers at $78,250 per year (median $71,930).
What is the job outlook for desktop publishers?
Employment is projected to change -12.4% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 400 openings per year.