Desktop Publishers
Office and Administrative Support
Operating desktop publishing software, the work is positioning text and art, choosing type styles and sizes, setting column widths and spacing, and importing files from databases, scans, or digital cameras. Preliminary and final proofs are checked for errors, and the layout is changed as instructions and on-screen feedback come in. Sample pages go out for approval before camera-ready copy is produced. The work is a match for people who like arranging visual details with care, following layout instructions, and making small, precise corrections.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$55'290
Median Wage Market Position
$55'290
What you might do
- Design page layouts in desktop publishing software
- Place text and artwork on print or web pages
- Set type size, style, and column width
- Review layout proofs and fix mistakes you find
- Import photos and clip art into layouts
- Prepare sample layouts for others to approve
Skills that matter
- Arranging text and art on the page
- Choosing type size, style, and spacing
- Checking proofs and correcting mistakes
- Importing photos and scanned artwork
- Preparing sample layouts for approval
- Sequencing work from the design instructions
AI & the future of this role
Layout of text and graphics for print-ready materials can increasingly be generated or rearranged by design software with AI assistance. Taste and brand judgment still help in complex projects, yet routine production work looks highly automatable.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details