The average salary for a desktop publisher in the United States is around $55,290 per year.
Avg Salary
Desktop publishers earn an average yearly salary of $55,290.
Wages typically start from $35,680 and go up to $96,170.
12% below national average Updated in 2025
Desktop publisher earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level desktop publisher earnings begin at:
$46.23 per hour
$96,170 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level desktop publisher earnings begin at:
$35.50 per hour
$73,840 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level desktop publisher earnings begin at:
$26.58 per hour
$55,290 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level desktop publisher earnings begin at:
$21.02 per hour
$43,730 per year
10th percentile
Starting level desktop publisher earnings begin at:
$17.16 per hour
$35,680 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Desktop publisher salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $77,750 |
| California | $71,930 |
| Maryland | $69,820 |
| New Jersey | $63,020 |
| South Carolina | $62,320 |
| Illinois | $61,350 |
| Massachusetts | $61,170 |
| District of Columbia | $60,930 |
| Texas | $57,760 |
| New York | $56,660 |
| Connecticut | $55,870 |
| Minnesota | $54,930 |
| Vermont | $53,550 |
| Ohio | $53,380 |
| New Mexico | $53,280 |
| Florida | $52,720 |
| Arizona | $52,000 |
| Oregon | $50,650 |
| Indiana | $49,070 |
| New Hampshire | $48,300 |
| Virginia | $47,750 |
| Louisiana | $47,130 |
| Maine | $47,100 |
| Oklahoma | $46,040 |
| Wisconsin | $46,010 |
| Kentucky | $45,760 |
| Michigan | $45,300 |
| Tennessee | $44,440 |
| Utah | $43,740 |
| North Carolina | $43,700 |
| Washington | $41,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,714 |
| Georgia | $39,460 |
| North Dakota | $38,450 |
| Missouri | $38,430 |
| Iowa | $36,920 |
| Nebraska | $36,280 |
| Hawaii | $35,180 |
| Alabama | $34,360 |
| Mississippi | $32,930 |
| Kansas | $31,290 |
| West Virginia | $22,680 |
How do desktop publisher salaries compare to similar careers?
Desktop publishers earn 6% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than broadcast and sound engineering technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Broadcast and sound engineering technician salary | $60K |
| Computer repair technician salary | $62K |
| Technical support specialist salary | $62K |
| Hydroelectric plant technician salary | $62K |
| Audio and video equipment technician salary | $58K |
| Desktop publisher salary | $55K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)