Career comparison
Desktop Publisher vs. Editor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Editors earn more at the median ($77,920 vs. $55,290), while desktop publishers usually get to work faster (2-year degree of training). Desktop publishers lay out text and images for brochures, books, reports and newsletters. Editors plan, review and improve writing for publications, websites and books.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Desktop Publisher | Editor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $55,290 ($26.58/hr) | $77,920 ($37.46/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $35,680 – $96,170 | $41,250 – $153,700 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -14.5% (a projected decline) | -1.1% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 300 | 7,900 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 2-year degree | Writing experience plus on-the-job learning |
| Key credential | Adobe Certified Professional | Editing certificate |
| Work setting | Desktop publishers work in offices, print shops and remotely.. | Editors work in offices and remotely.. |
What each job does
Desktop Publisher
- Lay out pages
- Place text and images
- Follow style guides
- Fix typography
- Prepare print files
Editor
- Plan content
- Assign stories
- Edit copy
- Fact-check
- Write headlines
How they’re similar
Both careers involve desk work, creative work, remote-friendly work, and working with information. Both are part of the arts, media & design field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose desktop publisher if…
- I like layout
- I’m detail-oriented
- I like design software
Choose editor if…
- I love words
- I catch mistakes
- I give tactful feedback
Still torn? Take the Desktop Publisher fit quiz and the Editor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, desktop publisher or editor?
Editors earn more at the median: $77,920 versus $55,290 for desktop publishers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Desktop Publishers typically train faster (2-year degree) than editors (Writing experience plus on-the-job learning).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects editors to grow -1.1% from 2025–35, compared with -14.5% for desktop publishers.