Other Office and Administrative Support Workers

How to become a Desktop Publisher

Official title: Desktop Publishers

Also called: Advertising Associate, Compositor, Computer Typesetter, Design Editor, Desktop Operator, Desktop Publishing Specialist, Electronic Console Display Operator, Electronic Imager, Electronic Publishing Specialist, Publisher

Format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material.

Main tasks

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.
Study layout or other design instructions to determine work to be done and sequence of operations.

How to become one

Desktop publishers typically need an associate's degree. They also receive short-term on-the-job training lasting about 1 month.

Typical education to start: Associate's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Electronic Prepress System Oper..
Certificate or associate's degree: Associate's degree. Programs such as Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design; Computer Typography and Composition Equipment Operator

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $55,290 a year The middle half earn $43,730 to $73,840.
About 4,600 people work in this job now, and about 4,000 are projected by 2035. (-14.5%)
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Desktop Publisher?

Desktop publishers typically need an associate's degree. They also receive short-term on-the-job training lasting about 1 month.

How much does a Desktop Publisher earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $55,290 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $43,730 to $73,840.

Is a Desktop Publisher a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to fall 14% by 2035, from about 4,600 to about 4,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Desktop Publisher?

Not always. 45% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Associate's degree; Electronic Prepress System Oper..

Will AI change the work of a Desktop Publisher?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.