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Desktop Publishers in Massachusetts

Considering working as a Desktop Publishers in Massachusetts? Below are the key facts. Format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material.

What do Desktop Publishers Make in Massachusetts?

For a desktop publishers working in Massachusetts, wages run about $54,590 per year (or roughly $26.25/hour).Annual wages span from $39,700 at the 10th percentile to $83,840 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$39,700	$19.09
25th percentile	$47,010	$22.60
Median (50th)	$54,590	$26.25
75th percentile	$82,870	$39.84
90th percentile	$83,840	$40.31

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Massachusetts compared to the national average — is 1.46, meaning that desktop publishers are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, desktop publishers earn a median of $27,130 per year ($13.04/hour), exceeding the Massachusetts median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 620,641 desktop publishers in the U.S.. In Massachusetts alone, around 140 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 80 desktop publishers.

Top Massachusetts Metros for Desktop Publishers

The metro areas below employ the most desktop publishers in Massachusetts.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	90	$65,330

Top States for Desktop Publishers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most desktop publishers work.

State	Number Employed
New York	490
California	460
Texas	410
Georgia	270
Florida	230
Minnesota	230
Illinois	140
Massachusetts	140
Pennsylvania	130
Wisconsin	110
Maryland	90
Colorado	80
North Carolina	80
Tennessee	80
Arizona	80
New Jersey	70
Virginia	70
Oregon	60
Indiana	60
New Hampshire	60

Highest-Paying States for Desktop Publishers

These states pay the most for desktop publishers.

State	Annual Median Salary
Colorado	$75,490
New York	$65,740
New Jersey	$65,650
California	$63,620
Oregon	$61,020
Minnesota	$61,020
Maryland	$56,590
Louisiana	$55,110
Massachusetts	$54,590
Arizona	$54,310

Skills

Key desktop publishers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for desktop publishers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• 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.
• Select number of colors and determine color separations.
• Convert various types of files for printing or for the Internet, using computer software.
• Enter digitized data into electronic prepress system computer memory, using scanner, camera, keyboard, or mouse.
• Edit graphics and photos, using pixel or bitmap editing, airbrushing, masking, or image retouching.

Work Activities

• Working with Computers
• Getting Information
• Thinking Creatively
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Processing Information
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Documenting/Recording Information

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator In-demand technologies: Adobe InDesign

Related Careers

Other careers like desktop publishers include:

• Computer Systems Analysts
• Computer Programmers
• Software Developers
• Web Developers
• Web and Digital Interface Designers
• Video Game Designers

Also Known As

Advertising Associate, Compositor, Computer Compositor, Computer Publisher, Computer Typesetter, DTP Operator (Desktop Publishing Operator), Design Editor, Desktop Operator, Desktop Publisher, Desktop Publishing Associate, Desktop Publishing Specialist, Desktop Support Engineer, Digital Publisher, Digital Publishing Specialist, Document Design Specialist.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 43-9031.00