Desktop Publishers
Also called: Compositor, Computer Typesetter, Electronic Console Display Operator, PublisherFormat typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 16 of its 18 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 14.5% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.8 hires for every 10 job openings in information, which employs about 51% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.8 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | not published | not published | 90 |
| Arizona | $52,000 | $52,000 to $65,160 | 30 |
| California | $71,930 | $51,620 to $94,710 | 320 |
| Colorado | $77,750 | $42,420 to $107,970 | not published |
| Florida | $52,720 | $43,520 to $61,660 | 150 |
| Georgia | $39,460 | $38,240 to $61,420 | 230 |
| Illinois | $61,350 | $47,460 to $69,080 | 150 |
| Indiana | $49,070 | $43,670 to $52,000 | 130 |
| Kentucky | $45,760 | $30,630 to $53,420 | 40 |
| Louisiana | $47,130 | $21,960 to $64,350 | 40 |
| Maine | $47,100 | $32,130 to $55,930 | 30 |
| Maryland | $69,820 | $51,790 to $78,710 | 140 |
| Massachusetts | $61,170 | $48,700 to $86,300 | 80 |
| Michigan | $45,300 | $42,890 to $53,740 | 40 |
| Minnesota | $54,930 | $51,300 to $64,920 | 90 |
| Nebraska | $36,280 | $34,000 to $42,210 | 40 |
| New Hampshire | $48,300 | $48,300 to $58,310 | 30 |
| New Jersey | $63,020 | $58,700 to $63,020 | 100 |
| New York | $56,660 | $46,290 to $80,500 | 350 |
| North Carolina | $43,700 | $39,450 to $51,490 | 80 |
| Ohio | $53,380 | $49,200 to $66,170 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $46,040 | $37,440 to $59,850 | 40 |
| Oregon | $50,650 | $42,340 to $72,500 | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | not published | not published | 140 |
| South Carolina | $62,320 | $53,360 to $88,780 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $44,440 | $38,730 to $49,380 | 40 |
| Texas | $57,760 | $43,010 to $69,840 | 270 |
| Vermont | $53,550 | $40,680 to $57,500 | 50 |
| Virginia | not published | not published | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $46,010 | $46,010 to $52,920 | 40 |
Nationally: $55,290. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 16 of its 18 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Operate desktop publishing software and equipment to design, lay out, and produce camera-ready copy. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Check preliminary and final proofs for errors and make necessary corrections. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Convert various types of files for printing or for the Internet, using computer software. | 0.22% |
| AI + software | View monitors for visual representation of work in progress and for instructions and feedback throughout process, making modifications as necessary. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare sample layouts for approval, using computer software. | 0.07% |
| AI + software | 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. | 0.11% |
See all 18 tasks
| AI + software | Enter text into computer keyboard and select the size and style of type, column width, and appropriate spacing for printed materials. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Edit graphics and photos, using pixel or bitmap editing, airbrushing, masking, or image retouching. | 0.14% |
| AI + software | Study layout or other design instructions to determine work to be done and sequence of operations. | Not published |
| AI + software | 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. O*NET flags this task's ratings as uncertain | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Enter data, such as coordinates of images and color specifications, into system to retouch and make color corrections. | Not published |
| AI + software | Select number of colors and determine color separations. | Not published |
| AI alone | Transmit, deliver, or mail publication master to printer for production into film and plates. | Not published |
| AI + software | Enter digitized data into electronic prepress system computer memory, using scanner, camera, keyboard, or mouse. | Not published |
| AI + software | Collaborate with graphic artists, editors and writers to produce master copies according to design specifications. | Not published |
| AI + software | Create special effects such as vignettes, mosaics, and image combining, and add elements such as sound and animation to electronic publications. | 0.01% |
| Not much | Store copies of publications on paper, magnetic tape, film, or diskette. | Not published |
| Not much | Load floppy disks or tapes containing information into system. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 9 of the 18 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 18 tasks fall under 10 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #13 Operate computer systems or computerized equipment
- #35 Process digital or online data
- and 1 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process digital or online data | |||
| Operate computer systems or computerized equipment | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Select materials or equipment for operations or projects | |||
| Examine materials or documentation for accuracy or compliance | |||
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities | |||
| Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Process shipments or mail |
Show all 10 activities
| Move materials, equipment, or supplies | |||
| Stock supplies or products |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- An image or graphic29%
- A document or report23%
- A presentation or slides12%
- An app or website8%
- A script or snippet5%
How they worked with Claude
53% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for desktop publishers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 3,773 moves out
- 1 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 25%
- 2 First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers High -3.7% 5%
- 3 Editors Very high -1.1% 5%
- 4 Computer Occupations, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 5 Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners High +5.8% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 3,591 moves in
- 1 Graphic Designers Very high -1.7% 8%
- 2 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 6%
- 3 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 6%
- 4 First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers High -3.7% 6%
- 5 Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners High +5.8% 5%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 5% postsecondary certificate
- 1% some college
- 11% associate's
- 39% bachelor's
- 44% not published
O*NET marks 44% of the answers as too uncertain to publish, so the parts shown don't add up to 100%.
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 21 people answered.
2 programs: Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design and Computer Typography and Composition Equipment Operator.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
<0.5% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | <0.5% | 19.1% |
| a certification | <0.5% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | <0.5% | 2.8% |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (ELECTRONIC PREPRESS SYSTEM OPER.). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Desktop Publishers” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/43-9031.00