Career comparison
Desktop Publisher vs. Graphic Designer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Graphic designers earn more at the median ($62,960 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. Graphic designers create logos, layouts and visuals that communicate ideas and build brands.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Desktop Publisher | Graphic Designer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $55,290 ($26.58/hr) | $62,960 ($30.27/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $35,680 – $96,170 | $39,520 – $104,910 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -14.5% (a projected decline) | -1.7% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 300 | 16,000 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 2-year degree | 4 years or portfolio-based training |
| Key credential | Adobe Certified Professional | Adobe Certified Professional |
| Work setting | Desktop publishers work in offices, print shops and remotely.. | Designers work in studios, offices or remotely, at computers for most of the day.. |
What each job does
Desktop Publisher
- Lay out pages
- Place text and images
- Follow style guides
- Fix typography
- Prepare print files
Graphic Designer
- Meet with clients to understand goals
- Develop design concepts
- Design logos, layouts and graphics
- Select typography, color and images
- Prepare files for print and digital
How they’re similar
Both careers involve desk work, creative work, and remote-friendly work. 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 graphic designer if…
- I love visual design
- I notice fonts and layouts
- I take feedback well
Still torn? Take the Desktop Publisher fit quiz and the Graphic Designer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, desktop publisher or graphic designer?
Graphic Designers earn more at the median: $62,960 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 graphic designers (4 years or portfolio-based training).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects graphic designers to grow -1.7% from 2025–35, compared with -14.5% for desktop publishers.