How Much Money Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design Jobs Pay
Typical Salaries for Desktop Publishers and Graphic Designers
In 2000, the median wages were $30,600 for desktop publishing jobs and $34,570 for graphic design jobs. Both occupations had a range of $20,000 to $60,000. While some differences are due to the industry in which the desktop publisher or graphic designer is employed, regional differences also play a major role in earnings potential.
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes occupational information for hundreds of jobs including desktop publishing and graphic design jobs. The following information is extracted from the 2000 Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. The list includes at least one, sometimes two or more, cities for each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
The first figure is the median hourly wage. The second figure is the mean annual wage1. Many other occupations may have desktop publishing as a major component of the job but the wages here are specifically for those with the title of desktop publisher or graphic designer. Keep in mind that when comparing wages between different parts of the country that cost of living in that area plays a part in how far your dollar goes. A higher annual salary may not translate into greater spending ability.
| Location | Desktop Publishing Jobs2 | Graphic Design Jobs3 |
| Alabama - Birmingham | $13.99/$27,730 | $16.98/$35,520 |
| Alabama - Mobile | not available4 | $15.33/$32,640 |
| Alaska - Anchorage | not available | $16.96/$37,370 |
| Arizona - Phoenix | $18.43/$38,130 | $16.28/$36,970 |
| Arkansas - Little Rock | not available | $13.67/$28,080 |
| California - Los Angeles | $16.80/$36,220 | $18.18/$42,270 |
| California - San Diego | $17.41/$36,510 | $17.15/$37,630 |
| California - San Francisco | $17.17/$43,160 | $22.60/$50,280 |
| California - Ventura | $16.00/$36,360 | $16.38/$36,420 |
| Colorado - Denver | $17.40/$36,400 | $14.86/$32,170 |
| Connecticut - Hartford | $15.04/$36,520 | $18.48/$38,450 |
| Delaware - Dover | not available | $14.11/$15.19 |
| District of Columbia - Washington D.C. | $17.80/$39,210 | $19.73/$42,350 |
| Florida - Jacksonville | $12.17/$25,740 | $16.13/$35,570 |
| Florida - Miami | $17.24/$34,800 | $17.13/$38,020 |
| Florida - Tampa | $13.82/$30,240 | $14.79/$32,450 |
| Georgia - Atlanta | $15.21/$31,230 | $17.92/$38,620 |
| Georgia - Savannah | not available | $14.88/$32,620 |
| Hawaii - Honolulu | $14.91/$30,630 | $18.42/$39,760 |
| Idaho - Boise City | $11.88/$25,410 | $15.45/$31,480 |
| Illinois - Chicago | $18.20/$44,780 | $17.88/$39,000 |
| Indiana - Indianapolis | $12.49/$27,510 | $14.68/$33,440 |
| Iowa - Des Moines | $15.42/$31,120 | $16.22/$34,400 |
| Kansas - Kansas City | $15.92/$32,440 | $15.50/$34,430 |
| Kentucky - Louisville | $12.41/$26,960 | $14.33/$31,240 |
| Louisana - New Orleans | $12.87/$27,930 | $12.76/$28,210 |
| Maine - Bangor | not available | $13.81/$31,530 |
| Maryland - Baltimore | $15.38/$32,020 | $16.86/$37,320 |
| Massachusetts - Boston | $18.72/$39,990 | $20.38/$45,530 |
| Michigan - Detroit | $15.37/$33,260 | $22.76/$52,630 |
| Minnesota - Minneapolis | $16.94/$36,450 | $18.12/$40,250 |
| Mississippi - Jackson | not available | $14.15/$30,650 |
| Missouri - St. Louis | $11.83/$26,120 | $18.05/$37,990 |
| Montana - Billings | not available | $12.24/$26,710 |
| Nebraska - Lincoln | $10.37/$22,830 | $12.33/$27,260 |
| Nevada - Las Vegas | $15.82/$32,040 | $17.09/$36,250 |
| New Hampshire - Manchester | not available | $18.31/$41,030 |
| New Jersey - Newark | $18.93/$39,100 | $17.62/$37,920 |
| New Mexico - Albuquerque | $8.80/$24,160 | $16.34/$36,950 |
| New York - Buffalo | $12.17/$29,360 | $14.43/$30,340 |
| New York - New York | $22.04/$45,260 | $25.33/$58,640 |
| New York - Syracuse | $13.24/$29,070 | $12.55/$28,260 |
| North Carolina - Greenville | not available | $13.14/$28,220 |
| North Carolina - Wilmington | $10.23/$23,020 | $15.10/$32,770 |
| North Dakota - Bismarck | not available | $12.31/$24,900 |
| Ohio - Cinncinnati | $14.93/$31,320 | $17.21/$39,090 |
| Ohio - Columbus | $14.63/$31,180 | $14.63/$33,780 |
| Oklahoma - Tulsa | $13.24/$27,680 | $14.38/$33.990 |
| Oregon - Portland | $13.47/$29,480 | $17.10/$38,060 |
| Pennsylvania - Philadelphia | $15.13/$33,120 | $17.34/$39,020 |
| Puerto Rico - Caguas | not available | $6.84/$16,870 |
| Puerto Rico - San Juan | $14.53/$30.270 | $9.19/$21,470 |
| Rhode Isand - Providence | $16.89/$34,320 | $16.73/$37,960 |
| South Carolina - Charleston | not available | $12.87/$29,640 |
| South Carolina - Greenville | $16.20/$34,360 | $15.14/$34,200 |
| South Dakota - Sioux Falls | $10.43/$22,050 | $12.74/$27,770 |
| Tennessee - Nashville | $10.88/$25,280 | $13.62/$30,960 |
| Texas - Austin | $13.17/$28,590 | $16.11/$38,670 |
| Texas - Dallas | $13.60/$29,900 | $21.11/$43,030 |
| Texas - Houston | $16.08/$33,720 | $15.07/$31,900 |
| Utah - Salt Lake City | $12.63/$28,760 | $15.58/$35,240 |
| Vermont - Burlington | $12.48/$26,460 | $16.03/$34,580 |
| Virginia - Richmond | $16.57/$34,960 | $15.72/$36,390 |
| Washington - Seattle | $16.08/$34,110 | $23.00/$49,660 |
| West Virginia - Charleston | not available | $12.43/$33,150 |
| Wisconsin - Greenbay | not available | $11.63/$26,340 |
| Wisconsin - Milwaukee | $17.65/$37,430 | $17.99/$39,340 |
| Wyoming5 | not available | $9.42/$22,160 |
1Hourly is a median figure while annual is a mean figure. Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours. The hourly mean wage is usually slightly higher than the median hourly wage shown in the above table.
2Desktop Publishing jobs involve formatting typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics short description.
2 Graphic Design jobs require the design or creation of graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics short description.
4 Wage estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry divisions in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. Some occupations may not be represented in some areas.
5 No data on these occupations was available for Casper or Cheyenne, the two primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas for this state. The figures presented are for the entire state of Wyoming.
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