Desktop Publishers vs Office Machine Operators, Except Computer: $55K vs $41K Median Pay

Desktop Publishers vs Office Machine Operators, Except Computer: what changes?

Consider Desktop Publishers if you want to format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material. Consider Office Machine Operators, Except Computer if you would rather operate one or more of a variety of office machines, such as photocopying, photographic, and duplicating machines, or other office machines. Entry credentials differ: Desktop Publishers, associate's degree; Office Machine Operators, Except Computer, high school diploma or equivalent.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Desktop Publishers and Office Machine Operators, Except Computer. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Desktop Publishers

National median pay (2025): $55,290
Route into the job: Associate's degree; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Operate desktop publishing software and equipment to design, lay out, and produce camera-ready copy.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 300

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 14.5% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Desktop Publishers brief

Office Machine Operators, Except Computer

National median pay (2025): $40,960
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Read job orders to determine the type of work to be done, the quantities to be produced, and the materials needed.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 2,100

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 14.9% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Office Machine Operators, Except Computer brief

How the national numbers differ

Office Machine Operators, Except Computer has the edge on annual openings

Office Machine Operators, Except Computer is at 2,100 annual openings, compared with 300 annual openings for Desktop Publishers.

Desktop Publishers has the edge on median pay

Desktop Publishers is at $55,290, compared with $40,960 for Office Machine Operators, Except Computer.

Typical preparation differs.

Desktop Publishers: Associate's degree; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Office Machine Operators, Except Computer: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Desktop Publishers has the edge on projected growth

Desktop Publishers is at -14.5% projected growth, compared with -14.9% projected growth for Office Machine Operators, Except Computer.

21.6/ 100

Desktop Publishers

26.4/ 100

Office Machine Operators, Except Computer

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Desktop Publishers vs Office Machine Operators, Except Computer

Dimension	Desktop Publishers	Office Machine Operators, Except Computer
Median pay (2025)	$55,290	$40,960
Pay percentile	40 percentile	12.2 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	-14.5%	-14.9%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	300	2,100
2025 employment	4,600	25,800
How you qualify	Associate's degree; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Desktop Publishers brief Read Office Machine Operators, Except Computer brief

Desktop Publishers vs Office Machine Operators, Except Computer: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Desktop Publishers

Office Machine Operators, Except Computer

How the national numbers differ

Office Machine Operators, Except Computer has the edge on annual openings

Desktop Publishers has the edge on median pay

Typical preparation differs.

Desktop Publishers has the edge on projected growth

Desktop Publishers vs Office Machine Operators, Except Computer

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