The average salary for a desktop publisher in California is around $71,930 per year.
Avg Salary
Desktop publishers earn an average yearly salary of $71,930.
Wages typically start from $42,080 and go up to $115,410.
3% below national average Updated in 2025
Desktop publisher earnings by seniority
Top-level desktop publisher earnings begin at:
$55.49 per hour
$115,410 per year
Senior-level desktop publisher earnings begin at:
$45.54 per hour
$94,710 per year
Mid-level desktop publisher earnings begin at:
$34.58 per hour
$71,930 per year
Junior-level desktop publisher earnings begin at:
$24.82 per hour
$51,620 per year
Starting level desktop publisher earnings begin at:
$20.23 per hour
$42,080 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 about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than technical support specialists but more than audio and video equipment technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Technical support specialist salary | $80K |
| Computer repair technician salary | $80K |
| Drafter salary | $77K |
| Hydroelectric plant technician salary | $78K |
| Broadcast and sound engineering technician salary | $73K |
| Desktop publisher salary | $72K |
| Audio and video equipment technician salary | $65K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)