Desktop Publishers Salary in U.S.

The salary statistics of desktop publishers are shown in Table 1. In the next few tables we compare the average salaries of desktop publishers within different industry sectors and in the 50 states of the United States. The desktop publishers annual salary statistics are from the national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 and published in April 2023 [1].

Table 1. Desktop Publishers Salary in U.S. (2022 survey)

Percentile BracketAverage Annual Salary
10th Percentile Wage
$29,370
25th Percentile Wage
$33,720
50th Percentile Wage
$47,910
75th Percentile Wage
$68,000
90th Percentile Wage
$86,820

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for desktop publishers. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) desktop publishers is $86,820. The median annual salary (50th percentile) is $47,910. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent is $29,370. It is noted that in the United States, the annual salary of the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) is almost 195% higher than that of the bottom 10 percent.

Median salary trend (2012 to 2022)

The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of desktop publishers from 2012 to 2022.

YearMedian SalaryYearly Growth10-Year Growth
2022
$47,910
2.09% 22.69%
2021
$46,910
-1.39% -
2020
$47,560
4.56% -
2019
$45,390
5.46% -
2018
$42,910
1.31% -
2017
$42,350
2.98% -
2016
$41,090
3.04% -
2015
$39,840
4.12% -
2014
$38,200
0.92% -
2013
$37,850
2.14% -
2012
$37,040
- -

Table 2. Desktop Publishers Salary by Industry Sector (2022 survey)

The average salaries of desktop publishers in 17 major industry sectors are shown in Table 2. We note that the salaries vary considerably within different industry sectors. The highest paying industry sector for desktop publishers occupations is the other services (except federal, state, and local government) sector with an annual salary $60,130. The lowest paying sector is the accommodation and food services sector (annual salary $35,090).

Industry Sector Median Annual Salary
Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)
$60,130
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
$54,660
Federal, State, and Local Government
$54,230
Educational Services
$51,660
Wholesale Trade
$51,360
Manufacturing
$49,930
Health Care and Social Assistance
$49,150
Management of Companies and Enterprises
$48,810
Construction
$47,070
Finance and Insurance
$45,430
Information
$44,520
Transportation and Warehousing
$40,770
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
$39,710
Retail Trade
$39,650
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
$36,920
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
$35,350
Accommodation and Food Services
$35,090

Table 3. Median Annual Wage of Desktop Publishers by States (2022 survey)

From the above tables we note that not only desktop publishers salaries vary considerably based on one's education and experience, and the industry sectors, they also change considerably from state to state. In the following table we compare the median salary of desktop publishers in all 50 states of the United States. We note that the median annual salaries range from $29,060 to $95,260. The highest paying state for desktop publishers is District of Columbia with a median annual salary of $95,260. The lowest paying state is Louisiana with a median annual salary of $29,060. For more salary information of desktop publishers profession in a specific state, use the links in the table.

State Name Median Annual Salary
District of Columbia
$95,260
New York
$82,800
Illinois
$66,340
Massachusetts
$62,410
Maryland
$60,040
California
$59,990
Connecticut
$59,440
Washington
$58,420
New Mexico
$57,970
Virginia
$57,350
Wisconsin
$56,360
Idaho
$55,380
Michigan
$55,080
Colorado
$54,660
Oregon
$52,880
Alaska
$52,630
New Hampshire
$50,130
Tennessee
$48,990
Arizona
$48,960
North Carolina
$48,810
Minnesota
$48,700
Oklahoma
$48,110
New Jersey
$47,330
Georgia
$46,900
Indiana
$46,560
Vermont
$46,350
South Carolina
$46,020
Pennsylvania
$45,280
North Dakota
$44,220
Missouri
$43,380
Ohio
$41,760
Maine
$39,800
Kansas
$39,300
Florida
$38,630
Mississippi
$38,590
Utah
$38,000
Iowa
$37,800
Hawaii
$35,180
Nevada
$34,340
Montana
$34,250
Arkansas
$33,460
Texas
$32,700
Alabama
$31,950
Delaware
$30,720
Kentucky
$30,010
Nebraska
$29,290
West Virginia
$29,200
Louisiana
$29,060