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.
4% below national average Updated in 2025
Desktop publisher earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level desktop publisher earnings begin at:
$55.49 per hour
$115,410 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level desktop publisher earnings begin at:
$45.54 per hour
$94,710 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level desktop publisher earnings begin at:
$34.58 per hour
$71,930 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level desktop publisher earnings begin at:
$24.82 per hour
$51,620 per year
10th percentile
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 |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $95,260 |
| Colorado | $77,750 |
| California | $71,930 |
| Maryland | $69,820 |
| New Jersey | $63,020 |
| South Carolina | $62,320 |
| Illinois | $61,350 |
| Massachusetts | $61,170 |
| 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 |
| Virginia | $48,620 |
| New Hampshire | $48,300 |
| Louisiana | $47,130 |
| Maine | $47,100 |
| Oklahoma | $46,040 |
| Wisconsin | $46,010 |
| Kentucky | $45,760 |
| Michigan | $45,300 |
| Kansas | $44,850 |
| Tennessee | $44,440 |
| North Carolina | $43,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,390 |
| Washington | $41,750 |
| Georgia | $39,460 |
| North Dakota | $38,450 |
| Utah | $38,000 |
| Iowa | $37,930 |
| Missouri | $36,760 |
| Nebraska | $36,280 |
| Hawaii | $35,180 |
| Mississippi | $32,930 |
| West Virginia | $29,200 |
| Alabama | $26,750 |
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 graphic designers but more than audio visual technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Graphic designer salary | $75K |
| Computer repair technician salary | $80K |
| IT support specialist salary | $80K |
| Drafter salary | $77K |
| Remote sensing technician salary | $78K |
| Desktop publisher salary | $72K |
| Audio visual technician salary | $65K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)