Desktop publishers use computer software to design page layouts for newspapers, books, brochures, and other items that are printed or published online.

Desktop publishers held about 14,800 jobs in 2014. About one-third of them worked in publishing industries.

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

The median annual wage for desktop publishers was $39,840 in May 2015.

Employment of desktop publishers is projected to decline 21 percent from 2014 to 2024. Companies are expected to hire fewer desktop publishers as other types of workers—such as graphic designers, web designers, and editors—increasingly perform desktop-publishing tasks.

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for desktop publishers.

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of desktop publishers with similar occupations.

Learn more about desktop publishers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.