Office and Administrative Support · Holland code CAR

Desktop Publishers

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

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

O*NET 43-9031.00

At a glance

US median annual pay: $55,290; Middle half earn $43,730 to $73,840. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Most common education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED); 44% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
Preparation needed: Job Zone 3 of 5; Medium preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
US employment outlook, 2024 to 2034: -12% · Decline; 5,000 jobs in 2024, projected 4,400. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, which groups this with similar roles as "Desktop publishers".

What the work involves

The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.

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.
Transmit, deliver, or mail publication master to printer for production into film and plates.

Skills and knowledge it leans on

Skills

Reading Comprehension3.8 / 5
Critical Thinking3.8 / 5
Active Listening3.5 / 5
Speaking3.5 / 5
Writing3.1 / 5
Active Learning3.0 / 5

Knowledge areas

Computers and Electronics4.0 / 5
Communications and Media3.6 / 5
English Language3.4 / 5
Administrative2.8 / 5
Production and Processing2.8 / 5
Design2.6 / 5

Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.

Who tends to enjoy it

How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.

Realistic40
Investigative31
Artistic54
Social12
Enterprising12
Conventional78

The same work abroad

Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.

European occupation titles (ESCO)

publications coordinator · DE Publikationskoordinator/Publikationskoordinatorin · FR directeur des publications/directrice des publications
book publisher · DE Buchverleger/Buchverlegerin · FR éditeur/éditrice
desktop publisher · DE Desktop-Publisher · FR maquettiste
graphic designer · DE Grafikdesigner/Grafikdesignerin · FR graphiste
book editor · DE Buchredakteur/Buchredakteurin · FR directeur de collection/directrice de collection
writer · DE Schriftsteller/Schriftstellerin · FR écrivain/écrivaine

Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)

Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services (1163)8,000 employed
Newspaper, periodical and broadcast editors (2491)43,100 employed
Newspaper and periodical broadcast journalists and reporters (2492)45,100 employed

Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.

Pay across Europe, for the whole group

Median annual earnings of all employees in “Professionals”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.

Median annual earnings, Professionals, by country
Country	Median pay
Belgium	€61,714
Germany	€59,529
Ireland	€56,877
Austria	€55,374
Netherlands	€53,595
Sweden	€43,567
France	€41,515
Spain	€35,735
Italy	€33,649
Portugal	€26,072
Poland	€14,380

Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.

Exposure to AI

This occupation sits in the middle third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of +0.34. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.

Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.

Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (43-9031).

Is it a fit for you?

Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.

Take the career interests test