Education:
44%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
39%
Bachelor's Degree
Desktop Publisher
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Job Outlook:
Decline
Education:
Associate's degree
Salary
High:
$86,820.00
Average:
$53,390.00
Hourly
Average:
$25.67
What they do:
Format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material.
On the job, you would:
- 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.
Important Qualities
Artistic ability. Desktop publishers must have a good eye for how graphics and text will look, so that they can create pages that are visually appealing and legible.
Communication skills. Desktop publishers must collaborate with others, such as writers, editors, and graphic designers, and communicate ideas effectively.
Detail oriented. Desktop publishers must pay attention to details such as margins, font sizes, and the overall appearance and accuracy of their work.
Organizational skills. Desktop publishers often work under strict deadlines and must be good at scheduling and prioritizing tasks in order to have documents ready in time for publication.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
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98% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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96% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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93% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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85% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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84% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
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84% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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80% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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79% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
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75% | Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. | |
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74% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
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72% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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66% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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66% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. | |
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59% | Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. | |
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57% | Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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83% | Artistic - Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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67% | Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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78% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |
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75% | Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). | |
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72% | Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged. | |
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72% | Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem. | |
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69% | Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. | |
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69% | Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity). | |
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66% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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66% | Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. | |
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66% | Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. | |
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66% | Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. | |
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66% | Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness. | |
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63% | Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. | |
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63% | Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object. | |
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53% | Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. | |
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53% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |
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53% | Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. | |
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53% | Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
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57% | Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. | |
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55% | Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. | |
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54% | Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. | |
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52% | Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. | |
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52% | Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively. | |
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52% | Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. | |
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52% | Instructing - Teaching others how to do something. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Proofread documents, records, or other files to ensure accuracy.
Format digital documents, data, or images.
Monitor operational quality or safety.
Enter information into databases or software programs.
Format digital documents, data, or images.
Store records or related materials.
Format digital documents, data, or images.
Enter information into databases or software programs.
Format digital documents, data, or images.
Operate computers or computerized equipment.
Format digital documents, data, or images.
Read work orders to determine material or setup requirements.
Operate computers or computerized equipment.
Format digital documents, data, or images.
Enter information into databases or software programs.
Select resources needed to accomplish tasks.
Deliver items.
Send information, materials or documentation.
Confer with coworkers to coordinate work activities.
Format digital documents, data, or images.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
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100% | Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job? | |
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94% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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92% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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91% | Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting? | |
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88% | Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? | |
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86% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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78% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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76% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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76% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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73% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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73% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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69% | Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls? | |
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64% | Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions? | |
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56% | Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job? | |
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54% | Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? | |
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52% | Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? | |
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52% | Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? | |
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61% | Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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87% | Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. | |
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83% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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79% | Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. | |
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73% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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73% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
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73% | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. | |
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70% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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66% | Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. | |
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66% | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. | |
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63% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
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62% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
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60% | Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. | |
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60% | Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. | |
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59% | Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. | |
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58% | Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. | |
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55% | Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork. | |
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52% | Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. | |
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52% | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
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52% | Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
What Desktop Publishers Do
Desktop publishers edit graphics, such as photographs or illustrations.
Desktop publishers use computer software to design page layouts for newspapers, books, brochures, and other items that are printed or published online.
Duties
Desktop publishers typically do the following:
- Review text, graphics, or other materials created by writers and designers
- Edit graphics, such as photographs or illustrations
- Import text and graphics into publishing software
- Integrate images and text to create cohesive pages
- Adjust text properties, such as size, column width, and spacing
- Revise layouts and make corrections as necessary
- Submit or upload final files for printing or online publishing
Desktop publishers use publishing software to create page layouts for print or electronic publication. They may edit text by correcting its spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Desktop publishers often work with other design, media, or marketing workers, including writers, editors, and graphic designers. For example, they work with graphic designers to come up with images that complement the text and fit the available space.
Work Environment
Desktop publishers held about 8,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of desktop publishers were as follows:
| Publishing industries | 29% |
| Self-employed workers | 17 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 17 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 4 |
| Printing and related support activities | 2 |
Work Schedules
Many desktop publishers work full time, and they may need to work additional hours to meet publication deadlines.
Getting Started
How to Become a Desktop Publisher
Desktop publishers typically learn on the job from an experienced worker.
Desktop publishers usually need an associate’s degree. They also receive short-term on-the-job training, lasting about 1 month.
Education
Desktop publishers usually need an associate’s degree, often in graphic design or graphic communications. Community colleges and technical schools offer desktop-publishing courses, which teach students how to create electronic page layouts and format text and graphics with the use of desktop-publishing software.
Training
Desktop publishers typically receive short-term on-the-job training lasting about 1 month. They learn by working closely with more experienced workers or by taking classes that teach them how to use desktop-publishing software. Workers often need to continue training because publishing software changes over time.
Other Experience
Many employers prefer to hire workers who have experience preparing layouts and using desktop-publishing software. Students may gain experience by working on a publication for a school or other organization.
Job Outlook
Employment of desktop publishers is projected to decline 13 percent from 2022 to 2032.
Despite declining employment, about 700 openings for desktop publishers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Companies are expected to hire fewer desktop publishers as desktop-publishing tasks are increasingly performed by other types of workers, such as graphic designers, web designers, and editors. Furthermore, as organizations continue to publish their materials electronically instead of printing them, fewer desktop publishers are expected to be needed.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about the printing industry, visit
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of desktop publishers.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Editors |
Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication. |
Bachelor's degree | $73,080 |
|
Film and Video Editors and Camera Operators |
Film and video editors and camera operators manipulate moving images that entertain or inform an audience. |
Bachelor's degree | $62,420 |
|
Graphic Designers |
Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. |
Bachelor's degree | $57,990 |
|
Special Effects Artists and Animators |
Special effects artists and animators create images that appear to move and visual effects for various forms of media and entertainment. |
Bachelor's degree | $98,950 |
|
Technical Writers |
Technical writers prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily. |
Bachelor's degree | $79,960 |