Desktop Publishers
Format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material.
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Complex Problem Solving
- Time Management
Key knowledge
- Computers and Electronics
- Communications and Media
- English Language
- Administrative
- Production and Processing
- Design
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
What the work involves
- Check preliminary and final proofs for errors and make necessary corrections.
- Operate desktop publishing software and equipment to design, lay out, and produce camera-ready copy.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Conventional, Artistic, Realistic.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (44.3% of respondents)
- Related experience
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (24.2%)
- On-the-job training
- Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month (49.2%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 3: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Desktop Publishers is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | Low | Lower on contact with others than 67% of occupations compared | 48% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others” |
| Dealing with the public | Low | Lower on dealing with the public than 63% of occupations compared | 35% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Teamwork | Low | Lower on teamwork than 76% of occupations compared | 40% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | Low | Lower on freedom to make decisions than 71% of occupations compared | 48% of surveyed respondents chose “Limited freedom” |
| Time pressure | Very high | Higher on time pressure than 91% of occupations compared | 64% of surveyed respondents chose “Every day” |
| Conflict situations | Low | Lower on conflict situations than 72% of occupations compared | 36% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Very low | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 89% of occupations compared | 36% of surveyed respondents chose “Never” |
| Consequence of error | Very low | Lower on consequence of error than 82% of occupations compared | 44% of surveyed respondents chose “Not serious at all” |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: very high
- Conflict situations: low
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: very low
- Consequence of error: very low
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 0%
- Occasional contact with others: 6.68%
- Contact with others about half the time: 20.73%
- Contact with others most of the time: 24.39%
- Constant contact with others: 48.19%
n = 22, Incumbent 08/2021
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 24.33%
- Fairly important: 15.66%
- Important: 22.93%
- Very important: 1.64%
- Extremely important: 35.44%
n = 22, Incumbent 08/2021
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 0%
- Fairly important: 14.44%
- Important: 21.66%
- Very important: 23.8%
- Extremely important: 40.1%
n = 21, Incumbent 08/2021
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 0%
- Very little freedom: 0%
- Limited freedom: 47.54%
- Some freedom: 14.72%
- A lot of freedom: 37.73%
n = 22, Incumbent 08/2021
Time pressure
- Never: 0%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 0%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 12.49%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 23.16%
- Every day: 64.36%
n = 22, Incumbent 08/2021
Conflict situations
- Never: 16.65%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 35.8%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 34.76%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 6.1%
- Every day: 6.68%
n = 22, Incumbent 08/2021
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 36.43%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 34.44%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 18.32%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 4.12%
- Every day: 6.68%
n = 22, Incumbent 08/2021
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 44.49%
- Fairly serious: 16.44%
- Serious: 16.38%
- Very serious: 11.88%
- Extremely serious: 10.81%
n = 22, Incumbent 08/2021
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O*NET-SOC 43-9031.00 · SOC 43-9031 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8