Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design Jobs Salaries and Job Skills

Although salaries vary from one region to another, in the $15,000-$60,000 a year range there are a number of jobs that utilize desktop publishing skills to some degree.

Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design Jobs Can Pay Decent Wages

The higher paying desktop publishing and graphic design jobs are often managerial or supervisory positions where you may not be doing 'hands on' design or production. Instead you're responsible for supervising others. However, there are 'hands on' jobs in the $35,000 and up salaries that range from producing all types of documents to handling very specific tasks — such as designing a catalog or creating a Web site.

As with almost any type of job, the more you know, the more you can make. Even if the job is not primarily desktop publishing, those skills are considered a plus (i.e. you increase your salary or at least your chance at the job) by many employers.

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. See a table by state and city of Typical Salaries for Desktop Publishers and Graphic Designers in the US.

Sidenote to freelancers: At the risk of comparing apples to oranges, in informal surveys of freelance designers I've found hourly rates ranging from $15 an hour to $100 an hour or more. Employers seem to be paying from $15-$50 an hour. Freelancers, with your overhead from running your own business it would seem that if you are charging anything less than $35-$45 an hour you ought to reconsider your pricing — you're worth more!

Proficiency in Several Desktop Publishing Software Programs is a Plus

What about the software and technical skills and educational requirements for desktop publishing and graphic design jobs? Is Mac experience a must? Do you need to know more than one program?

Here's a sampling of what some of the employers want:

• 1-5 years work experience in desktop publishing . Extensive knowledge of Pagemaker. Knowledge of Macs and related peripherals. PC experience is helpful. Experience in Illustrator is helpful.

• Must have previous desktop publishing experience. Must be skilled in MS Word using templates and style guides.

• One to four color print design and production experience. Illustration skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office including PowerPoint, Corel PhotoPaint, QuarkXPress, and other popular desktop publishing software.

• Advanced PC skills in QuarkXPress, Microsoft Word and Excel. Proficiency in Harvard Graphics, CorelDraw, Photoshop. Corel Ventura experience a plus. Some knowledge of HTML also required.

• Excellent Framemaker knowledge required. HTML conversion experience a plus.

• Must be proficient with various desktop applications such as: Microsoft PowerPoint, Corel WordPerfect, CorelDraw, Corel Presentations.

There are jobs out there for both Mac and PC users and for a variety of software packages. You may have an edge if you are knowledgable, or at least familiar with, a variety of common desktop publishing and graphics programs. Certification may also help. Unfortunately, many employers are not familiar enough with desktop publishing applications to know how well skills with one will transfer to another program. For this reason, they are often insistent that applicants have experience with their particular software.

The Question of Degrees for Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design Jobs

Educational requirements for desktop publishing or production work most often takes the form of non-degree courses and on-the-job training — making it one computer industry profession accessible to non-college grads. However, depending on how the employer is defining the job, you may find that more advanced training and even a degree in graphic design or related fields (such as printing or art) is necessary.